McGinn brothers keep parents busy as John gets Scotland call

The St Mirren midfielder, 19, is one of three professional footballers in the family that father, Stephen, and mother, Mary, follow all over Britain.

Former St Mirren and Scotland Under-21 midfielder Stephen, 25, is now at Sheffield United while defender Paul, 22, joined Dumbarton on a permanent basis in the summer after leaving Paisley.

The youngest McGinn revealed how these footballing siblings keep his parents busy with his international career adding to their mileage.

“It is some achievement having three sons as footballers and they will travel the whole of Britain to see us,” he said.

“I remember once, I was playing on a Saturday afternoon against Aberdeen on the telly (early) and they went there, then went to Dumbarton at three o’clock and then went to Sheffield on the Sunday. It was crazy.

“They are proud of us and we couldn’t have done it without them.

“So I am delighted to get called up, it is an honour.

“It is good to get recognition. It shows that you are doing something right. I just want to try to get as much game time as possible, impress, and make myself a regular in the squad.”

The former Scotland Under-19 player says that that sibling rivalry shaped him as a person and a player.

“It has made me a winner from day one,” he said. “I am always trying to beat those two.

“They were always competitive with me which is good.

“They didn’t lay off me and it made me stronger as a person and I am glad of it now.

“It was a competition about goals last year and I lost.

“I got about four. Paul won and he is a defender.

“I am winning this year, though, and I am proud of that – but I’ve only got three so that shows that we are not fond of the net.”

The fixture will be Scotland’s last friendly match before their European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Holland at St Mirren Park on Wednesday, May 29.