SCOTTISH CUP

McGinn says Dons will be facing ‘very solid side’

Niall McGinn enjoyed one of the best summers of his career alongside Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson, but any goodwill goes out of the window this weekend.

The pair were part of the Northern Ireland set-up that reached the second round of the European championship finals in France two years ago, with McGinn speaking highly of Robinson’s methods ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against the Steelmen at Hampden Park.

“Motherwell work very hard and have a lot of physical players,” he said.

“They’re tough opposition and showed it in the games against Celtic and Rangers. We’re up against a very solid side which has experience of getting to a cup final this season. It figures to be a good game.”

Finishing a second successive season with a Scottish Cup final would not have been given too much thought by McGinn, given he left Pittodrie for South Korean outfit Gwangju FC after the 2-1 loss to Celtic last May.

He returned to the Dons in December after cutting short his Far East experience, admitting he would have been frustrated had things worked out differently and he missed out on competing for another final.

McGinn said: “I’d definitely be disappointed (if I missed it) because I’d love to be there.

“I’m back again and have an opportunity to get in another final, so I’m over the moon.

“Korea didn’t work out football-wise but, as an experience, I enjoyed being in another part of the world. I love being back and things have been going well.

“I’ll never think I’m better than this or that – it’s an experience that came up.

“But I would have been disappointed to miss it and now I’m part of it, I’m excited more than anything.

“It’s one competition I’ve looked forward to since coming back,” he added.

Relishing cup semifinal: Niall McGinn.