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Niall McGinn ready for Dons Europa League bid

By EE Reporter
29/06/2016, 1:16 pm Updated: 29/06/2016, 1:17 pm
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Aberdeen’s Euro 2016 goal hero Niall McGinn admits he’s desperate to spearhead their bid to make the group stages of the Europa League.

McGinn has returned to the Granite City after starring for Northern Ireland at the Euro finals in France.

Most of his international team-mates have now gone off on holiday.

But there will be no break for Niall because he’s needed for tomorrow night’s Europa League qualifier clash with Luxembourg’s CS Fola Esch at Pittodrie.

McGinn insists he will be ready to go again, despite the fact it means he will have played an entire calendar year without a break.

He said: “It is just a matter of getting my legs going again and playing for my club.

“The manager (Derek McInnes) wants to get off to a good start in the competition and I’ll be aiming to contribute to the team and help us claim a good result.”

McGinn scored in his country’s 2-0 win over Ukraine to become only the eighth Northern Ireland player in history to net at a major finals.

He returned to Belfast’s Titanic Quarter for Monday’s spectacular homecoming party in front of their fans before getting back to Aberdeen yesterday lunchtime.

He admitted the time in France has sent his confidence soaring ahead of tomorrow’s European tie with the Dons.

It has also left him determined to ensure Northern Ireland do all they can to reach the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.

McGinn said: “I couldn’t have wished for anything more.

“To go and play in a major tournament was fantastic and to come on and score a goal was the best moment of my life.

“The whole experience was amazing.

“I think, as the weeks and months go on, we will look back at it and reflect on what a fantastic time we had and what an unbelievable experience it was to be part of.

“We have the World Cup qualifying campaign coming up next and we know it will be extremely difficult with just one team qualifying automatically in the group.

“But we have to use the experience from the Euros, from qualifying for the finals in France when we played really well.

“We have shown that we are capable of beating anyone at Windsor Park and our away record has improved as well.

“It’s got the potential to be a really interesting campaign and all the boys will be determined to do well again.”