Hibs' Momentum Cut Short: What Went Wrong Against Rangers & Livingston?
The Hibs Scottish Cup winning hero has just signed a new deal keeping him at Unai Emery’s side until 2028.
A Hibs and Scotland National Team fan favourite has extended his stay at Aston Villa for another two and a half years as he nears claret and blue testimonial.
Since leaving Easter Road for Villa Park in 2018, John McGinn joined an EFL Championship side that was a sleeping giant but has now awoken. Since his winner in the play-off final against Derby County that season, he has went on to captain them in the Champions League.
The Scotland International remains an integral part of Unai Emery’s team and has been rewarded for his services to the club with a new contract until 2028. While his future in the summer transfer window was uncertain due to rumoured interest from Newcastle United and Everton, the former Hibee is happy to be staying in Birmingham.
Life in the old dog yet
At 31 years of age, McGinn still feels as if he is at the peak of his powers and that his mental and physical toughness stands him in good stead for an even longer Villa career. Speaking to Birmingham Live, he said: “When you get older, each birthday actually becomes quite miserable.
“But in my career, I always play better when I've got a point to prove, and I think now I'm actually in the best condition I've been in a long time physically, feeling as fit as ever. On the first day of pre-season I went to America to work with a woman called Natalie, who trains many serious NFL players and UFC players.
“She absolutely beasted me! It was 45-degree heat in Arizona. It was really, really tough but the benefits of that were that I came back in the best shape I’ve been in for a long time. I’ll never be the fastest or the strongest in the team, but I can give myself the best chance. Hopefully I’ll be back in America for the World Cup, but if not, I’ll be back there again.”
Brother Paul an inspiration for longevity
Former Hibee and brother of John, Paul McGinn, is currently captaining Motherwell at the age of 35. Due to their friendly sibling rivalry, John has a very ‘if he can do, I can do it’ mindset in terms of his playing career: “I watch my brother and he’s 35.
“Me and him have very different body shapes. He’s like a stick, skinny as anything, but there’s genuinely no difference from when he was 30 to 35. I’ve not asked him, but he has another two or three years left in him.
“Some people come to the end of their career and they’re finished mentally. Physically they are fine, but mentally not. They regret it because they might play five-a-side and they feel fresh, and they just needed a break. I feel mentally strong as ever to take on whatever challenge comes. You need to be because the manager is every single day on my case. If I’m off it at all, he will remind me.”
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