McGINN LOOKING TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME IN TITLE CHASE
Showdown in Leith was always midfielder’s target
FORTUNATELY for John McGinn, he has already made a deeply favourable impression on Gordon Strachan. For by the time the Hibernian midfielder announced himself back from an injury lay-off in stunning scoring fashion on Friday night, the Scotland manager had darted away from Easter Road and was perhaps out of hearing range for the ‘Super John McGinn’ song reverberating around a raucous stadium.
Strachan may have missed the moment but there was no escaping the truth, for the 18,000 or so who remained, that McGinn’s 81st-minute effort hammered home Hibs’ supremacy over Dundee United on the night and offered a heavy hint that this squad can go clear of their closest title rivals over the next few months.
For with McGinn fit following a six-week lay-off that was advised to be 12, Jason Cummings free from his slump to discover his scoring touch again and ex-Motherwell flyer Chris Humphrey opening up a new avenue of attack for Neil Lennon, this team possesses enough quality to prove a class apart from United — even if Kris Commons returns to Celtic.
McGinn squeezed in his side’s third goal of their 3-0 win three minutes after replacing Commons, who had been ill but played to remain unbeaten in four emergency loan outings for the club.
If that was an act of valour, then it is worth McGinn explaining how he outlined plans to feature in the season’s third meeting between the Championship title contenders way back in a post-surgery blur on November 24.
‘I made the United game my target once the drugs wore off after the operation,’ he explained. ‘That’s when I had my eye on it. I got told, initially, not to be so stupid by the surgeon (Graham Lawson).
‘After the operation, he was telling me: “Eight to 12 weeks”. I was thinking: “I’m young, I’m a quicker healer, so let’s aim for sooner”. I’m determined and I was keeping on at the physios and saying how much I wanted back for the United game.
‘I started to progress and was seeing light at the end of the tunnel. When I saw the surgeon last week, I was anxious. He wasn’t sure but he didn’t say no. That was important for me.
‘When he said I could play a small part in the game, I was over the moon. A big thanks to him for letting me go out and play. I’m delighted he gave me the all-clear. Hopefully, I won’t need to see him again.’
McGinn’s recuperation might have driven medical experts to distraction but it was ultimately welcomed by Lennon and a Hibernian squad that conceded ground to United without the Scotland international.
A 1-0 defeat at Tannadice and draws against Morton and Raith in December were a frustrating watch for McGinn, but he acknowledges that the long-term welfare of both he and the Hibs promotion ascent could only be maintained by him sitting out a chunk of mid-season time. A thick piece of calcified bone at the top of his left ankle had been limiting McGinn’s influence on games.
‘I got a knock at some point last year, I don’t know when,’ he said. ‘I had a bit like a hook outside of my left leg. It’s just happened to grow, it was strange. And really painful every time that I hit the ball with my left. ‘I was probably playing at 60 per
cent for two or three months and it got to the stage I couldn’t take any more. I said to the gaffer: “Listen, I need to go and get this done”. I couldn’t hang on until the end of the season. It was too painful and was putting other parts of my body at risk.
‘The surgeon was surprised by the size of it when he ended up operating on me but, thankfully, that’s shaved off now and it is healing.
‘It was a very complex operation but the physio kind of whispered in my ear and said we’d, hopefully, get me back sooner. Thankfully, that’s what has happened.
‘After a few weeks, I was able to go on the anti-gravity treadmill to take all the bodyweight off and that helped a lot. I was able to top up my fitness, stay strong in the gym with the sports scientist, so I was doing everything apart from the proper running.
‘It was only the start of the week that I could fully bear weight and I was feeling good, kicking a ball in the gym to test it out even though I wasn’t allowed to.
‘Thankfully, the manager gave me 15 minutes to go out there and play.
‘I got a wee kick on it towards the end and I was panicking a bit. I survived and I’m feeling all right. Hopefully, I can kick on next week and play a little bit longer.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m not fully
After surgery, I was told: ‘It’s eight to 12 weeks’. All that I could think was: ‘Let’s aim for sooner’
fit yet but I’m getting close I’m looking forward to getting a start.’
Lennon described Friday’s win, which created a four-point advantage over United, as the best display of the season. That best might well be about to get better as Hibernian are healthier and happier than at any stage of the campaign.
A first-half double from Cummings made it four in four following a ninegame drought, with the 21-year-old set to feast on a new supply line of winger Humphrey, who was devastating on his debut after signing on loan.
If Fraser Fyvie and Ofir Marciano can soon exit the treatment room with McGinn’s alacrity, then Hibs could lock up the title and return to the top flight with points to spare.
‘It was a tough time with injuries but the boys still managed to stay on top, so
it’s good that I’m back,’ said McGinn. ‘We have a strong squad and could add to it. ‘Chris is an excellent signing. I played against him when I was at St Mirren and he was at Motherwell. I always needed to stay away from him because I couldn’t catch him.
‘Jason is composed, he doesn’t get fazed by anything and it’s good to see him on a scoring run again.
‘That was the best we’ve played all season and I hope that puts a marker down to the rest of the division that it’s not going to be an easy game when you play Hibs.
‘It’s not going to be easy but it’s important we get a consistent run now, keep getting wins. We’re going to be strong, we’re going to be ruthless and, hopefully, we don’t look back from now until the end of the season when we can become champions. That’s our goal.’