McGinn content to share free-kick duties with Maddison after ‘unbelievable’ winner
NIALL McGINN is not surprised people are still talking about James Maddison’s stunning 25-yard free-kick winner for Aberdeen against Rangers on Sunday.
The Northern Ireland international might have found himself standing over the ball had he still be on the park at the time, but the winger insists there will be no arguing should a similar effort be required against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park today.
“In recent weeks, James and me have been practising free-kicks,” McGinn said. “There’s different positions where different players will fancy their chances. Me, him or Kenny McLean will be hitting them for different reasons.
“There’ll be no falling out. It was just unbelievable seeing James score that one last Sunday.”
McGinn, named in Michael O’Neill’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Germany this month, insisted he is an admirer of the on-loan Norwich City player.
“I was off the pitch on Sunday,” McGinn said. “James is a confident lad and he’s shown his abilities since he’s come to the club. For him to stand up and do that in the last minute of the game was sensational.
“To see it go in was just incredible as well. It can’t be a good thing if our opponents don’t know who’s taking it. With the calibre of Kenny McLean and James Maddison hitting the free-kicks we can be happy with that.”
McGinn admitted that their three wins over seven days – victories over Dundee and Rangers in the league sandwiched a Betfred Cup quarter-final victory over St Johnstone – were a boost. He hopes the Dons can maintain their fine form by taking the points at Rugby Park.
“I felt that last week was an important week for the club,” he said. “For us to come through it with three wins we’re still on track and we’re still an improving team. We’re a force to be reckoned with.
“Drawing with Rangers at home a few weeks ago was probably the highlight for Kilmarnock and we know the calibre of players that they have. ”
Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark, meanwhile, is looking for his side to put the harsh lessons learnt from their punishing defeat by Celtic into practice against Aberdeen. The Ayrshire side were demolished 6-1 by the Premiership leaders last week and now face the second-placed team. “The good thing about last week is that it shows us what we have to do better in terms of when we come up against the top teams,” he said. “We have to be more aggressive and play higher up the pitch. When I say aggressive I mean aggressive in our pressing game.
“I have been impressed with Aberdeen. I was impressed with Derek McInnes and the work he did last year. I had one game against them in the latter part of the season and he has made some good signings and he already had some big players.”