Paul’ s happy to leave the jokes around the camp to his wee brother, john
Having enjoyed a good night in Vienna as a Scotland debutant, Paul Mcginn says he is happy to do anything the country want him to do.
Except be the class clown, that is.
The squad comedian is, he insists, a position that is already being ably filled by his younger brother, John.
The Hibs defender will round off a remarkable few days when he lines up in the Edinburgh derby.
He said: “It has been a bit surreal how quickly it has all happened.
“The Sunday-night call came when I was not expecting it. We’d had what was quite a meaty training session at Hibs ahead of a few days off, and I was just driving home.
“The SFA phoned, and said someone would have to come to my house as I’d been called up to the squad.
“We got through to Oriam late at night, and due to Covid protocols, I had to stay in the room until I found out in the morning whether I was good to go or not.
“Happily, I was because I got my debut, something I have been waiting years for.
“I’d been in the squad last October that was also a Covid-hit camp, and you think: ‘Was that my one chance? Will that be it? To get warmed up for half-an-hour and never play, never get on?’
“You just have to tell yourself to keep plugging away because you never know.”
The 30-year-old, who was happy to grant his father’s request for his match-worn jersey, had little trouble settling into the group.
He said: “Both times in the squad, I feel I’ve trained well. That helps because you want
your team-mates to think: ‘He can play’.
“That makes all the difference. And John helped me feel at home. He is the class clown, and the players all love him.
“Che Adams said: ‘You are completely different to John.’ I said it’s not possible for a household to have two of them!
“John has been kind enough to bang the drum for me with the SFA for about five years.
“He is also a top, top player, and it is always great to have them in your team.
“I don’t know when he became the strongest man in world football! That certainly wasn’t the case in our house. So maybe the sports scientists get the credit.”
Having made the breakthrough, Paul is now hopeful Hibs’ high-flying form in the Premiership will keep him in Clarke’s mind.
“Yeah, I did well at St Mirren and won the Player of the Year, but if you are down there fighting, then it is really hard to get recognition,” he said.
“That is the way football goes. I joined Hibs last year, and been consistent in a team doing well, and I guess that puts you in people’s eye line.
“It’s international football, so there is obviously going to be competition. Stephen O’donnell has done really well for the country, and everyone is really excited about Nathan Patterson, so it is going to be tough.
“But seasons are long, and injuries and suspensions happen. So I’ll just try and keep myself ready.”