Stephen is adamant that his brothers Mcginn have earned the right to shine
Like ever y fan, there was a degree of apprehension as Stephen Mcginn waited for Scotland’s Euro play- off penalty shootout against Israel to begin. But there was solace, he thought, in the fact that his wee brother John would not be taking one of them.
He was i n f o r a s hock, though, when, seconds later, the camera panned in on the Aston Villa midfielder walking up to place the ball on the spot!
“J o hn t o l d me a f t e r he missed against Brondby [ for Hibs] that he was never taking one again. He said that unless it went to sudden death he’s no hitting one, and then he’s first up!
“I’m thinking, Ofir [ Marciano, the Israel and Hibs keeper] knows that’s the way he goes as well but he just creeps it in. That sudden relief from ‘ aw naw, he’s actually hitting one’ to the relief of it going, it was quite sudden.”
“I think fromhimsayinghe’s not hitting one, that has got to be going through his head, but I’m delighted he’s got that monkey off his back and it is probably testament to his character.
“I’ve been involved in penalty shootouts, and some boys just don’t fancy it. Maybe you needaweebit moreconfidence to put your hand up and say ‘ I’ll hit one and I’ll go first’. He did that and he manages just to get it in”
It gave Scotland the platform to progress and Mcginn every reason to be proud of his youngest footballing sibling, but those feelings could be
magnified if, as expected, the English Premier League star is joined on the pitch by the third Mcginn brother, Paul, for the Nations League matches, against Slovakia on Sunday and then Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Thehibernianfull- backwas called into Steve Clarke’s side after Covid, injuries and extra time took their toll. Stephen said: “John has got to an unbe
lievable height, but the journey Paul has been on is so different. He was part- time, did different jobs, and to see him get to that level is immense pride.
“We are pretty competitive, well, me and John are, more than Paul. But it does drive you on, even now seeing Paul make the jump from St Mirren to Hibs and going up a level again and you don’t want to just go and play games, I want to push
myself. That’s always been the case between the three of us, it’s just John’s that wee bit further away.”
While both Paul ultimately followed John from St Mirren to Hibernian and then into the Scotland ranks, the 29- year- old has had to be patient, making stop offs at Queens Park, Dumbarton, Dundee, Chesterfield and Partick Thistle en route.
But, having shared in the
journey, occupying a dressing room with his brother at Dens Park, Paisley and now Leith, he is pleased to see his brother get the recognition he says he deserves.
“Paulwasalwaysacleverboy at school then had a good job at Morgan Stanley. But he was doing quite well when I played down in England and just kept pushing the boundaries. He thought ‘ Stephen’s doing it,
John’s doing it, so why not?’ He was given an opportunity with Dundeeinthepremiershipand took to it. Jamie Murphy still talks about himbeingoneofthe toughest full- backs he played against. He just kept pushing and improving and it’s testament to where he has come from, how hard he has worked and how he has stuck at it.”