McGinn glad to be back playing

31 October 2010 14:58
iall McGinn returned to Northern Ireland for a well-earned break after his double at St Johnstone helped Celtic close the gap on Rangers.[LNB] 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.[LNB]It took just over a minute to open the scoring against the Perth side in the SPL rematch with a similar goal, pouncing on a rebound from goalkeeper Graeme Smith's save to knock in from close range.[LNB]Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre doubled the visitors' lead before the Northern Ireland international finished off a convincing win a minute from the end, albeit fortuitously, with a sclaffed shot.[LNB]Last week's home defeat against Rangers left Neil Lennon's three points behind their Old Firm rivals but the gap was closed when the champions drew against Inverness at Ibrox.[LNB]McGinn is simply glad to be back contributing to the cause.[LNB]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.[LNB]"Most importantly we are back to winning ways and we have to keep pushing on.[LNB]"I missed pre-season so over the last few weeks I have been doing extra.[LNB]"Thankfully the international games came at the right time for me.[LNB]"I got a wee run-out against Italy and got 90 minutes under my belt against the Faroe Islands.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"Obviously the goals are a bonus, the points are the most important thing.[LNB]"It shows we can bounce back after an Old Firm defeat and hopefully we can go on another long run.[LNB]"I will go back home and put my feet up now because I'm tired after two games in three days."[LNB]Celtic boss Neil Lennon had dropped right-back Cha Du-Ri to the bench and brought in Mark Wilson but had to reinstate the South Korean and change the team-sheet after skipper Shaun Maloney withdrew minutes from kick-off after succumbing to a stomach bug.[LNB]The Irishman moved McGinn over to the left and Cha moved to the right midfield position where he had an outstanding game in addition to setting up the former Derry City player for his second goal.[LNB]Lennon acknowledged that Cha may well be better suited to a midfield role.[LNB]He said: "It is a possibility. He's played there quite a bit and it's an option that we've looked at in training before.[LNB]"We didn't have much time to think about things with Shaun withdrawing.[LNB]"But we felt he would give us power and pace in the wide areas and he did a great job for us."[LNB]St Johnstone failed to rattle Celtic in the way they did in the cup tie last Wednesday and midfielder Chris Millar admitted that the best side won.[LNB]He said: "Celtic are a better side but we didn't match them for workrate, commitment or desire and if that happens you deserve to lose the game."

Source: Team_Talk