Mcginn rues missing World Cup

John Mcginn admitted that missing out on the 2022 World Cup finals still irks after he scored a superb consolation goal in Scotland’s 2-1 friendly defeat in Turkey.

Goals from defender Ozan Kabak and attacker Cengiz Under put the home side two up and it was not until the Aston Villa midfielder reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute that the Scots turned the game around, although there was to be no leveller. Mcginn moved on to 15 international goals, the same as ex-scotland attacker James Mcfadden, but he could not help thinking about the Qatar event which starts on Sunday with neither the Scots nor the Turks.

“It( goal) means a lot. i' m just happy to help the team,” said fromer Hibs star Mcginn.

“The manager started me off a little bit deeper tonight but at half-time told me to get up alongside Lyndon [Dykes] and cause some problems and, thankfully, I got another goal.

“In the end, I just want to be involved in a team that is playing in major tournaments.

“The build-up to the World Cup has stung us, hurt us, so the reality of that has kicked in and we will use that to drive us on to make sure we’re in Germany and us a after that ,” Mcg inn added onbbc radio Scotland.

Looking ahead to the Euro 2024 qualification campaign, which begins in March, Mcginn added: "Georgia, Norway, Spain are tough places to go so it certainly prepares us for that kind of environment. In the first half we didn't really stand up to it too well but I think, in the last half hour, we showed glimpses of what we' re capable of. If we play like that we'll be fine come March."