Michael has been great for us. It’s no surprise he is linked to other jobs
SAYS NIALL MCGINN
AMID the rancour and recriminations that have dominated the agenda in the wake of Scotland’s 3-0 defeat to England last week, one name has never been far from the headlines.
The admirable work being undertaken by Michael O’Neill as he transformed Northern Ireland from whipping boys to class acts — despite the blip that was Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat by Croatia — has been the subject of envious advances from the Tartan Army.
How, they wonder, is this resident of Edinburgh able to work such magic with a squad that is equally unheralded as those under Gordon Strachan’s charge? And, more pertinently, how do Scotland get him to jump ship?
The SFA’s backing of Strachan makes that question redundant for now. But for a member of O’Neill’s international shock troops it is a poser he fears will not go away.
Niall McGinn derived little consolation from the news Strachan was keeping his job. He believes Scotland’s loss will be soon be someone else’s gain when it comes to his own national team manager’s future.
O’Neill handed the Aberdeen midfielder his 50th cap for Northern Ireland — and the captain’s armband for the night — in the home defeat to Croatia.
That loss, in a friendly, was a rare setback for a country who now sit 21 places above the Scots in the FIFA rankings.
They also sit second in a World Cup qualifying group that includes defending champions Germany, the Czech Republic and Norway at the end of a year highlighted by a creditable performance at Euro 2016.
Little wonder then that O’Neill was being discussed as a genuine contender to replace Strachan in the wake of Scotland’s defeat by England last week.
‘It doesn’t surprise me that Michael is being linked with other jobs,’ said McGinn.
‘He has been great for the players and the spirit he has built is second to none.
‘To take this team to the Euros has been a fantastic achievement.
‘We want him to stay but when a manager is doing well, he will attract interest from elsewhere.
‘If Michael was to leave, then it would have to be the right job and opportunity for him.
‘He is at the stage of his career where he is enjoying international football and I’m sure he is enjoying being manager and going around watching players.
‘Who knows what is really going on in the back of his mind but all I know is if he keeps doing well, it will attract the attention of other teams.
‘If he does go, whether it is soon or a couple of years down the line, what he has done for Northern Ireland is unbelievable. When I first came through the door at Northern Ireland we were losing a lot of games, but now we win most of them and it really is brilliant to be part of that.
‘We are not a country blessed with outstanding players but what we have is fantastic team spirit and we work hard for each other.
‘The team spirit at Aberdeen is good and I feel privileged to be part of two good squads at this time in my career.’
The conclusion of the international break finds McGinn back on club duty for a Pittodrie side that continues to maintain ambitions of holding off all challengers for the Premiership’s runners-up spot.
It was former Scotland boss Craig Brown who brought McGinn to Pittodrie in the summer of 2012 and talks have already started with current manager Derek McInnes on extending that stay for another two seasons.
The player’s contract ends in the summer but his immediate priority is to secure the three points at Inverness today to keep Aberdeen clear in second place behind his old club Celtic.
McGinn insists that only then will attention switch to next weekend’s Betfred Cup Final against the Premiership leaders at Hampden.
‘We know this will be a tough test for us but if we can win that, it will set us up nicely for the cup final next week,’ he admitted.
‘They didn’t start the season well but they have got back to winning games and playing nice football.
‘We have to look at ourselves and we are trying to build on the win at Partick Thistle in our last game. Inverness have been a bogey team for us recently and we know what to expect.
‘They enjoy coming to Aberdeen and putting on a show against us. It is always a tough game up there as well.
‘Richie Foran has got them going but whether they are playing well or not, they always lift their game against us, so it is a game we have to be ready for.’
Inverness defender Brad McKay could well be one of the Caley contingent hoping to keep McGinn at bay this afternoon.
While Aberdeen dominated early top-flight meetings, Caley’s record has improved steadily through the years. Last season saw them beat the Dons twice and draw once.
In mid-September, an Iain Vigurs leveller earned a point at Pittodrie in a game the Highland team felt they could have won.
McKay said: ‘That draw was the start of our good run. It was a good point away from home considering the players Aberdeen have.
‘We’ll look to take the game to them and we’ve proved we can go toe-to-toe with the big boys in this league.
‘We’re the only team to take league points off Celtic this season. We ran Rangers close and we should have beaten Hearts, so we’ll go out and give Aberdeen a game.
‘We know what they are like and what to expect. Both teams have genuine quality and I think they will be fearing us as well.’