Hibs stalwart lined up besides Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor in Scotland’s midfield, but could we see the trio in Celtic’s starting XI one day?
Tuesday night saw Scotland defeat Hungary away 1-0 in what was Alex McLeish’s second game in charge of the national team since his reappointment in place of Gordon Strachan.
Like Strachan towards the end of his reign, McLeish is evidently making full use of his Celtic contingent, with Jack Hendry, Stuart Armstrong, Callum McGregor and James Forrest all lining up in the starting XI for the friendly against Hungary.
Celtic loanee Ryan Christie, currently playing at Aberdeen, was a fifth Celt added to the fray around the 77th minute mark.
But with Hibernian star John McGinn stealing the show, was Scotland’s midfield a glimpse of what might be at Celtic Park in the near future?
McGinn has been in stunning form for Hibs over the last couple of years and has grown to become one of the most feared midfielders in Scotland. The 23-year-old now has seven Scotland caps to his name, and has drawn attention from a number of clubs down south but, most notably, from Rangers and Celtic in his homeland.
The Hibs star appeared to link up well with his Celtic national team colleagues, and may well have been playing with added incentive knowing that Brendan Rodgers and his coaching staff will be watching intently.
Should McGinn prove that he can be the man to succeed Brown at international level, there is no reason that he would be unable to do the same domestically.
With Rangers also very keen on signing the 23-year-old, Celtic should act quick to land Neil Lennon’s creative ace although, given Hibs’ own ambitions, there is no doubt that the Edinburgh club will be unwilling to part ways with McGinn easily.
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