Feet up for Celtic hero McGinn

01 November 2010 10:38

Niall McGinn returned to Northern Ireland for a well-earned break after his double against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park helped Celtic move within a point of Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers.

The Hoops wideman missed pre-season training after breaking a metatarsal bone in his foot at the end of the last campaign but returned to score in last Wednesday's 3-2 Co-operative Insurance Cup win over Saints at the same venue.

He said: "I am just happy to be playing again. A lot of thanks has to go to the gaffer for giving me the opportunity to play and hopefully I rewarded him by scoring goals. Most importantly we are back to winning ways and we have to keep pushing on."

He added: "I missed pre-season so over the last few weeks I have been doing extra.

"Thankfully the international games came at the right time for me.

"I got a wee run-out against Italy and got 90 minutes under my belt against the Faroe Islands.

"Then last week I played a game for the Celtic second team and scored a couple of goals so everything is sort of going in the right direction and I just have to keep taking my opportunities when they come.

"Obviously the goals are a bonus, the points are the most important thing.

"It shows we can bounce back after an Old Firm defeat and hopefully we can go on another long run.

"I will go back home and put my feet up now because I'm tired after two games in three days."

Source: PA