McGinn ready to form Scotland midfield partnership with McGregor
John McGinn thinks he and Callum McGregor are ready to ride to Scotland's World Cup rescue.
Last updated 3rd Oct 2017
Boss Gordon Strachan faces a dilemma after seeing key men Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong ruled out of this week's crucial World Cup qualifiers with Slovakia and Slovenia.
But Hibernian midfielder McGinn and his Celtic counterpart McGregor could not have chosen a better moment to shine after both men hit doubles during Saturday's Parkhead draw.
McGregor's display has finally convinced boss Gordon Strachan to give him a call-up and now McGinn has pressed the case for the pair to be thrown straight into battle by insisting their games are perfectly suited.
"Callum is a top player," said the Leith ace. "I think he was trying to outdo me at the weekend but we're glad to have him this week.
"It just shows the strength we have as a country in midfield that he was out for so long.
"I definitely think we could play together. We are slightly different players but will complement each other well.
"Callum is probably better at putting the ball in the net than me but whoever the manager decides to go with we'll be doing whatever we can to get the best result possible.
"Do I feel ready to start? Absolutely. Every time I've come away with Scotland I've learned and improved. At club level I'm playing some of the best football I've ever played.
"I'm confident but at the same time I understand there's a lot of good midfielders in this squad.
"The injured guys have set a high standard and anyone coming in has to match it, if not improve on it.
"It's up the manager to decide who plays but all the boys knew that there would be opportunities for us. We've got the chance to go and become heroes.
"Stuart and Scott have been such big players for us in this campaign but we're lucky we have a really good midfield with a few guys who can come in.
"I've just been training hard and trying to put myself in the manager's thoughts."
Strachan plans to have skipper Brown in the Hampden dressing room ahead of Thursday's clash with Slovakia to help rally the troops and McGinn agrees with the move.
"For boys like myself Scott has been massive," he said. "He makes you feel very at ease. He's a class act on and off the pitch and I'm sure he will be about on Thursday to galvanise us.