OH, BROTHER!
McGinns could all pitch in at same time
IF Hibs somehow withstand the fevered transfer speculation surrounding their gifted midfielder John McGinn — and he remains at Easter Road next season — it won’t just have positive repercussions in Leith.
McGinn’s older brother, Paul, would be among the first to admit that it will be no surprise if his 23-year-old sibling finds himself playing in the English Premier League next season, with Brighton retaining a £3million interest in the Scotland international.
However, with the Scottish top flight promising to be a more intriguing prospect than ever in 2018-19 — as new Rangers boss Steven Gerrard goes head-tohead with Brendan Rodgers and the likes of Aberdeen and Hearts look to sharpen up their challenges to the Parkhead juggernaut — it would be a substantial loss if one of the SPFL’s top performers was not around to be a part of the showpiece.
Should he stay — and who’s to say that it won’t be with Celtic, if not Hibs? — it would not only delight John’s army of admirers north of the border, but throw up the equally enticing prospect of the midfielder playing in a senior game involving all three McGinn brothers.
Paul, 27, who left relegated Partick Thistle for newlypromoted St Mirren last week to link up for a second time with the oldest of the McGinn siblings, Stephen, admits it would be a ‘surreal experience’ if they were all to play in the same match.
But the defender, who will be hoping to make a bigger impact with Saints than he did during a previous spell five years ago, believes the prospect of all three on the same pitch could be a rather unpleasant one for his long-suffering mother.
‘It would be pretty surreal all three of us playing in the same game. I can’t imagine that has happened very often — if ever,’ he said.
‘I don’t think my mum would like it too much. She would probably stay well clear. But it could be interesting.’
The youngest McGinn had a superb season with Hibs, helping them to fourth place on their return to the top flight and winning more international honours, culminating in the current trip to Peru and Mexico.
Paul, by contrast, had a nightmare campaign with Partick Thistle and couldn’t prevent Alan Archibald’s side being relegated to the Championship following a disastrous play-off defeat to Livingston.
But the chance to make an immediate return to the Premiership with St Mirren quickly materialised, and he admitted that he sounded out 29-year-old Stephen before signing a two-year deal with Saints.
His arrival in Paisley would have gone ahead irrespective of whether manager Jack Ross stayed or not, with the ambitious young boss taking over as manager of Sunderland after guiding the Buddies back to the Premiership following a threeyear absence.
But Paul has heard only good things about the club from his brother, with the St Mirren board preparing to interview former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson and ex-Ross County gaffer Jim McIntyre for the managerial vacancy early next week.
Speaking to St Mirren’s official TV channel, Buddie Vision, former Queen’s Park, Dumbarton and Chesterfield player Paul added: ‘If Stephen was saying bad things about the club or whatever, then it would have made a difference but he was always raving about the way the club was being run, so it made a difference — albeit having to play alongside him is a downside!
‘We were also at Dundee together. Stephen didn’t move (to Dens Park) until January, but we finished in the top six that season and that was with the club having just gone up a division.
‘So these sort of things can be done and, hopefully, we can do something similar at St Mirren.
‘I know the club and I am delighted to be going there. Saints are on the up and I hope we will continue to do well.’