McGinn hopes for Euro outing

McGinn: Eager to impress

Niall McGinn is hoping a promising debut at the weekend will keep him in the Celtic first-team fold.

The Northern Ireland international was handed his Hoops bow on Saturday in a 1-1 draw against Dundee United, and turned in a man of the match performance.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Glasgow giants from Derry City in January, was only drafted into Tony Mowbray's plans as cover for the suspended Aiden McGeady.

However, having got a taste for life at the top level, McGinn is now looking to be involved in Celtic's Europa League adventures this term.

"I want to thank the manager for giving me my first start for Celtic," he said.

"Tony Mowbray has been 100 per cent with me since he came to Celtic in the summer, he has spoken to me and told where I stand.

Proud

"He knows that I will give everything that I have for the team whenever I get my chance.

"He told me to get at United and use my pace and hopefully I did him proud.

"The fans were behind me from the start and I could feel them willing me to do well.

"Every time Andreas Hinkel got the ball I could hear them encouraging him to give it to me and that was encouraging for me.

"Hopefully I will be included in the squad for the Europa League game away to Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday, I would be over the moon if that was the case."