BUILT FOR THE BIG TIME

Bain convinced his ex-Hibs team-mate McGinn has the ideal mentality for Celtic

HIS ability to break up play, manipulate the ball, execute a pass and make a healthy contribution to a team’s goal tally is beyond question.

Were those the only factors which would determine the success of John McGinn’s proposed move from Hibs to Celtic, it would already be viewed as a hand-in-glove fit.

As ever in such circumstances, however, the great imponderable is mentality. A seasoned professional at Easter Road, a Scottish Cup winner who is now a fully-fledged international, questioning the 23-year-old’s temperament may seem somewhat harsh.

But this is Celtic, a club whose jersey has been known to weigh too heavily for many players of considerable ability. There are absolutely no certainties.

Were the move to go through, however, Scott Bain has not one shred of doubt about McGinn. The goalkeeper shared a dressing room with him during a loan spell in Leith and saw not just a player with the ability to cut it at the club of his choosing, but one who would not be troubled by increased scrutiny and expectation.

‘John has a strong mentality and that’s one of the biggest aspects of playing for Celtic,’ said Bain.

‘I don’t think joining Celtic would faze him. He has good character.

‘The levels demanded of you are so much higher than everywhere else that you need to be on it every day.

‘But I think John definitely has the mentality to handle that. Some players just love the big occasion and he has shown that in his career.’

McGinn’s contributions for Hibs against Celtic last season were such that he could not have attracted Brendan Rodgers’ interest any more had he taken an advert out in the press.

He was man of the match by a country mile at Celtic Park in September, scoring both of his side’s goals in a 2-2 draw, and was instrumental as Neil Lennon’s side ended the four league encounters with honours even.

McGinn (right) is also young enough to suggest there would still be scope for significant improvement.

‘John believes in his own ability and has the quality to back it up,’ added Bain.

‘Everyone has seen how powerful he is and that he can pass the ball.

‘Any player coming to Celtic would also learn a lot from the manager. If they are prepared to work and listen to the gaffer, they will improve tenfold. John would fit in at Celtic and I think it’s always good to have that Scottish core at a club like this.

‘They know the values and what it means to play for the club.

‘Not only is John a good player, he is just a great lad to have around the place at any club.’

Celtic may be keen to push the deal through in time for the start of their Champions League qualifiers next week.

But with Derby County and Leeds United also showing interest, Hibs hold the whip hand.

In any event, Celtic will travel to Dublin to face Shamrock Rovers on Saturday in decent fettle after returning from their pre-season camp in Austria last night.

In order to ensure all his squad got 90 minutes under their belts, Rodgers oversaw a morning game against local side BW Linz before another 11 faced Sparta Prague.

Bain kept goal in the first game — a 2-1 win — and believes the camp has been a resounding success.

‘It’s been a great week,’ he said. ‘We have worked hard and really got back into our stride.

‘It was all topped off with a good win, so I’ve really enjoyed it.’

What a journey 26-year-old Bain has been on over the past year. Cold-shouldered by Neil McCann after starting the season at Dundee, he moved on loan to Hibs but failed to play, thus opening the door to be farmed out to Celtic.

A starring role in the 3-2 victory over Rangers at Ibrox in March proved the catalyst for a four-year deal. This, then, truly feels like a new beginning.

‘With the contract all sorted, it makes me feel a little more at ease than I was before,’ he said.

‘I know I am going to be here for a long time and I have really enjoyed getting back to the levels we had before. ‘I got a few games and last year was great, but now I am here permanently, I feel settled.’

A season that began on a low certainly improved markedly as it reached its conclusion. The added bonus for Bain’s fine form at club level was a ticket for Scotland’s end-of-season trip to Peru and Mexico when he was afforded 45 minutes in the latter match. ‘That was really pleasing because I’d had to pull out of a few squads before through injury,’ he recalled.

‘To actually get there and get some game time was great.

‘The Azteca was incredible. It was a crazy place to make my Scotland debut.

‘But it was a season where I was thrown in at the deep end a bit for club and country — making debuts at Ibrox and the Azteca.

‘But I really enjoyed it. They were both great atmospheres to be involved in.

‘Like anyone, you don’t know how you’ll handle a situation until you are put in it.’

In Stevie Woods, Bain has a goalkeeping coach with a track record of improvement. Fraser Forster arrived at Lennoxtown as Newcastle’s No 3 and departed for Southampton having played for England.

Bain believes he can also kick on, saying: ‘I only knew Stevie from playing against Celtic with Dundee. We met after games but had never had an in-depth conversation before I came.

‘Celtic is a giant club and one that everyone wants to play for, but, as a goalkeeper, Woodsy is a massive part of that.

‘It’s one the reasons why you want to come here because he’s top notch.

‘He’s very modern. He looks into a lot of things and analyses the position, so you can learn a lot from him.

‘It’s all about just putting the work in with him.

‘Woodsy is at the top of his game in the goalkeeping coaching department.

‘But even for the wider squad, he’s a guy who is appreciated as a person, as well as a top coach.

‘All the coaches here are at the top level and it’s a great place to be.’

In seemingly the blink of an eye from the Scottish Cup final, Celtic’s real business is almost upon them.

After Dublin, Rodgers will take his side to Armenia to face Alashkert in their first Champions League qualifier on Tuesday, knowing there is now no margin for error.

‘I feel we are looking good,’ said Bain. ‘We have had a really great week here and the boys have worked hard.

‘We have done what we needed to get the fitness levels up and we are in a good place.

‘It’s always a case of improving. It doesn’t matter what your levels are, you always strive to get better.

‘Fitness-wise, I think we are looking very sharp.’