John McGinn got '˜massive surprise' with Scotland call-up

Hibernian midfielder John McGinn has described his Scotland call-up as a 'massive surprise'.
The Hibernian midfielder has been in fine form this season. Picture: SNSThe Hibernian midfielder has been in fine form this season. Picture: SNS
The Hibernian midfielder has been in fine form this season. Picture: SNS

The former St Mirren midfielder, who takes on Ross County in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday, was Scotland Under-21 captain but felt a full call was some way off.

But after watching Ricky Sbragia’s team train in November, Gordon Strachan has decided McGinn is capable of making the step up now.

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“I’m delighted,” the 21-year-old told Hibs TV. “It’s something that as a young boy you look to try and achieve.

“All I’ve been given is an opportunity, and I hope to grab it with both hands. Massive credit to all my team-mates and everyone involved at the club because I couldn’t have done it without them.

“It was a massive surprise. I was only concentrating on the Under-21 squad. You obviously have aspirations and I was ambitious, but I was realistic, as captain of the Under-21s I was looking forward to the games against France and Northern Ireland so when I got the call it was a surprise but a very pleasant one.”

McGinn is in the squad for the Hampden friendly against Denmark on March 29 and is looking forward to rubbing shoulders with established international players such as Scott Brown and Steven Fletcher.

“There’s a lot of great players in the country, and they all want to be involved in this set-up, so I need to be at the top of my game to show the coaching staff at Scotland what I can do.

“I’m just delighted to get the chance. Even in training, to show what I can do and learn off such pros. I’m just going to go there to learn, and try and impress as much as I can.”

McGinn, who won the League Cup with St Mirren in 2013, believes his call-up can give him added confidence ahead of Sunday’s Hampden clash.

“It’s another edge to my game,” he said. “I’ve got that added confidence now that people are watching me and think I’m a good player. So I need to think that myself and show that on Sunday.”

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