GIVE ME THE NOD GAFFER
Supersub McGinn eyes Saints start
We know there are big teams in the next round but we are there on merit NIALL McGINN
NIALL McGINN hopes inspiring Aberdeen to Scottish Cup success at the weekend has convinced boss Derek McInnes he deserves to reclaim a starting spot.
The winger came off the bench, scored and set up two goals in an impressive second-half display that saw the Dons beat Queen of the South 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Supersub McGinn is now hoping he’s done enough to earn a start in their Premiership clash against basement boys St Mirren on Saturday.
He said: “I was disappointed not to be playing. The manager pulled me at half-time and wanted me to come on and offer a bit of a spark, to get on the ball and create chances.
“Thankfully it all worked and went to plan. I made a mark right from the start by scoring. I haven’t started the last couple of games but I have made an impact now. “I was disappointed to concede but it was an unbelievable strike from Stephen Dobbie. That’s what he is capable of and has been doing all season. “I was delighted to chip in with another couple of assists. It was a great day all round for me but, more importantly, we are in the next round.” Although Northern Irish ace McGinn is disappointed to languish on the bench, he admits it highlights the strength in depth the Dons have in the attacking areas with Gary Mackay-Steven, Connor McLennan, Greg Stewart, Stevie May and Sam Cosgrove to call on. McGinn said: “It shows the competition for places and it is down to the manager to pick his team for each and every game. “I was delighted to come on and make an impact, hopefully I will be in manager McInnes’s thoughts for the league game this week.” Aberdeen struggled for goals in the early months after they sold Adam Rooney to Salford but now Cosgrove has stepped forward with 14 strikes in 13 games. McGinn knows the frontman is a big player for the revitalised Pittodrie side. He said: “We have always had good players and been good at getting the ball into the box and creating chances.
“With big Sam in the box then more often than not he is going to get on the end of it – as he did against Queens with another couple of goals.
“It is always important you do your best to make an impact on the pitch and we did that on Sunday.”
With Aberdeen third in the table, McGinn knows their best chance of silverware is the Scottish Cup and after losing the League Cup Final to Celtic he’s determined to go one step further.
The ex-Hoops star said: “We have always done well in cup competitions since I have been here.
“I have had success here albeit we haven’t had success in the Scottish Cup. We have been to semi-finals and finals and we want to go one further.
“We know there are big teams in the next round and it will be tough but we are in there on merit and in the hunt, which is the most important thing.
“When you set out targets at the start of the season you want to get to cup finals and we’ve done that in the League Cup – now we want to do it in the Scottish Cup.”
Dons lost to Rangers last midweek to lose ground in the league and McGinn admitted that left a bad taste in the mouth until their cup triumph.
He said: “There is always motivation. Being at a big club the next game is the most important one and the matches have been coming thick and fast.
“Winning games is nice for momentum and when you lose you want to get out and win the next one. Thankfully we did and are in the next round of the Cup.”