Gutted to leave Hibees
club like Hibs brings. It’s not for everyone. Ordinary players can’t do well here.
“You need to know what’s expected of you and everyone in our dressing room knows that. The support can be demanding and I like that.
“It’s probably the same across the city at Hearts. You could see when they brought in a lot of new players in January that, without being disrespectful to them, they just weren’t ready to go and play for a big club like Hearts.
“I’ll avoid being controversial and just say that Hibs are at least every bit as big as Hearts so the same applies.
“It takes a certain character to come here and play with character and style, the way they would at other clubs where the demands aren’t quite as high.
“We want to improve on what we’ve done in the last couple of years.”
With Hibees gaf fer Nei l Lennon stating they should target second place behind Celtic, expectations are already high ahead of a mouth-watering return to the Premiership.
And after some big talk, McGinn is acutely aware there will be plenty of topflight foes determined to put the Easter Road club back in their place.
That does not faze him in the slightest as he said: “Teams might come to Easter Road thinking they can maybe knock us down a peg or two.
“We are used to that. We have been the big scalp from playing in the Championship. I don’t think much will change in that regard.
“Teams will come to Easter Road, set out their stall and hope to avoid defeat.”
McGinn reckons securing former loanee Efe Ambrose on a two-year deal is a statement of intent from the club.
He said: “Getting Efe back is a bonus. It does show how far the club’s come that we’re able to get Efe in on loan in the first place then manage to keep him.
“He has been brilliant for us and the fans have really taken a shine to him. He has the biggest… six-pack I’ve ever seen.
“He’s a great guy in the dressing room. To get him on board for two years is brilliant business.
“It was funny s e eing him wear ing his Celtic top on the day they got the league trophy and it’s was no surprise to see him doing a flip off the podium – that’s him all over.
“He was made to feel welcome at Easter Road. We’re a strong, tight group so I’m not surprised he wanted to come back and be a part of that.”
McGinn is now 22 and feels he has matured plenty since his last time in the top flight in 2015 when he was relegated with boyhood club St Mirren.
The midfielder has gone on to become a fully-fledged Scotland international and is adamant he is in much better shape – physically and technically – as he returns to the big time.
He said: “I’m absolutely a better player now than when I last played in the Premiership. I was very raw and slightly chubbier then.
“I’m the same in some regards, in terms of playing without fear. It all went pretty well when I first broke in and I managed to hit the ground running at Hibs.
“There are always challenges but I’m probably better prepared to deal with them now I’ve been at Hibs.
“I’m a little older, a little wiser and we’ve had a few setbacks so I think a lot comes with experience. I’m a more rounded player. I’m looking forward
to proving that.” summer acquisition. The 21-year-old scored 69 goals in 148 games for the Hibees and signed a new deal with the club just last year.
But after Forest’s offer was accepted and Cummings put pen to paper, he said: “I’m gutted to leave Hibs yet I feel it’s time to further my career. I’d like to say a massive thank you to the fans for all their support.
“Hibs gave me a chance and bel ieved in me. I’ l l always be grateful for that.”
Cummings admits he doesn’t expect to walk into the team at his new club.
But he’s happy to bide his time while working with new boss Warburton.
He said: “Forest are a massive club and this is a great opportunity.
“But I’m not coming here to just walk into the team.
“I have come here to learn as I will be playing with, and against, a lot better players.
“I’m still at the learning stages and, with the gaffer here, I will only get better.”
The Hibees ace clearly caught the eye of former Rangers gaffer Warburton but Cummings also had a chance to weigh up his new manager in Scotland.
He said: “I liked the way Rangers played under the manager. I had mates in his team then and they only said good things about him.
“His teams create a lot of chances so I feel that I am in the right side.”