JOHN McGINN admits he’s chasing the Scotland scoring record of Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish.
The Aston Villa skipper is sitting on 20 international goals going into the Nations League play-off games against Greece.
John McGinn training with Scotland[/caption]
He has already overtaken McCoist’s Scotland goal tally[/caption]
McGinn has moved past Ally McCoist (19) and is ten goals short of legends Law and Dalglish (both 30).
Asked how much the thought of surpassing the pair drives him on, he said: “It definitely is a motivation to be among those names. I like to wind Ally McCoist up a wee bit about it when I see him!
“If I had to choose the team winning over me scoring, I would still take that. But I sort of have it in the back of my mind and it’s something I think is achievable.
“Ten more goals to match Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law is something I never thought I would say.
“So I’ve got it in the back of my mind, but first and foremost I want to keep the team in division A in the Nations League.
“If I am able to nick a couple of goals and creep up towards their total, then it’s even better.”
McGinn, 30, never crossed paths with Manchester United icon Law, who passed away in January at the age of 84, but heard all about him.
He added: “I didn’t meet him but I was aware of how good he was.
“My dad told me about him. My grandpa and everyone idolised him.
“Everyone always spoke about how good a player Denis was. I think his record speaks for itself.
“He had 30 goals for Scotland in 55 caps, which is an extraordinary achievement. The respect the football world showed him shows how highly he was thought of.”
To stay in League A will require a victory over Greece across two legs this week. After that it’s about trying to get Steve Clarke’s side to next year’s World Cup.
With 73-cap McGinn among a handful of players in the squad now 30 or above, he knows it could be the last chance to reach the biggest stage of all.
He said: “For me and Andy Robertson, among others, it might be our last shot at this.
“We’re going to give it everything. Staying in League A gives us the best chance to qualify for a major tournament.”
Strike duo James Wilson and George Hirst have been handed first call-ups for the clash, while Kevin Nisbet has been recalled.
McGinn added: “For a couple of years we were limited due to players being either injured or out of form.
“Nizzy is back scoring, big George is in for the first time, and Tommy Conway’s doing really well at Middlesbrough.
“So we have different options now. We’re not really as one-dimensional.
“Myself and Ryan Christie can float between positions, big Scott McTominay is certainly like an attacker for us.”
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