\n<\/p>\n
Together with Scott Allan and Dylan McGeouch, Lennon’s Hibs midfield became one of the most formidable in the country after their promotion back to the top flight.<\/p>\n
McGinn was the shining star, though.<\/p>\n
“Some of the games there would be boys on his shoulders trying to get the ball off him and he would never lose it,” his former team-mate Allan tells BBC Scotland.<\/p>\n
“I was expecting him to be all action and a wee bit loose with the ball, but I was most surprised about how good he was technically.<\/p>\n
“That’s not mentioned enough, but that’s because you always see his fight and drive.”<\/p>\n
In post-match father-son debriefs, Allan’s dad had no problem letting his boy know he had underperformed.<\/p>\n
With McGinn, however, it was different, mainly because it rarely happened.<\/p>\n
“My dad would always say to me: ‘John can’t have a bad game, he’s always involved’,” Allan recalls.<\/p>\n
“And the way he uses his bum to protect the ball… I show my own son that when he’s playing football. It’s such a bizarre thing to say, but it’s such a crucial tool.”<\/p>\n
That ability to repel opposition players has become a trademark move.<\/p>\n
His physique had been questioned and he has conceded he is “no stick man” and “will never be ripped to shreds”.<\/p>\n
He just wanted to be noticed for using his body “in a unique way” – and Villa did, paying \u00a32.75m for his services as Celtic failed to stump up the cash.<\/p>\n
That now looks a colossal misstep from the Scottish champions, given the bargain McGinn has proved to be south of the border.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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