Former St Mirren captain Stephen McGinn admits he never thought he’d be pulling on the shirt of fierce rivals Greenock Morton.
But he believes the move was pivotal to extending his playing career after making his debut for the Cappielow side on Saturday.
Eyebrows in Paisley were raised when the former Saints youth academy product, who played more than 150 games for the club at Love Street and St Mirren Park over two spells, sealed a loan deal from Hibs to link up with ex-Buddies manager and technical director Gus MacPherson.
Having played the full 90 minutes against Dunfermline in a 1-0 defeat at East End Park, McGinn insists the buzz he got from being back on the pitch justified his shock move.
When asked if he ever imagined he’d be pulling on a Morton shirt, McGinn replied: “No, I wouldn’t have.
“This time last year, I always assumed when I was back for a second spell that I would go on and retire at St Mirren and go on to work within the club.
“But football changes really quickly and they let me go in the summer.
“At the end of the day, the opportunity came up to play for a club that’s local to me and with a manager I trust.
“Right away, the boys have made me feel welcome and I’m really pleased with the team. There’s a lot of good young players, with a lot of positive energy and a lot to work with.
“That was my first game since December but I felt really good.
“It’ll be the last time I’m happy after a defeat, but I’ve just missed it that much that I really enjoyed being back out there.
“Obviously, I want to have a really successful spell and keep the club in the division.
“I’m out of contract at Hibs in the summer. It’s a tough one, in the life of a footballer, no-one taps you on the shoulder and tells you your body’s about to be finished.
“You’ve honestly got to go with your gut and whether you’re enjoying it.
“I’ve been doing a lot of stuff off the park and helping with a bit of the coaching, for my own experience, for after I stop playing.
“But that feeling and that buzz you get when you’re playing, people always tell you not to quit too early.
“And, genuinely, today, that’s how I feel right now.”
McGinn, who played a key role in the club’s promotion back up to the top flight in 2018, revealed he hasn’t had a hard time from any of his former Buddies after switching to the Saints’ arch-rivals.
And he revealed the trust he has in former St Mirren coaching pair Gus MacPherson and Andy Millen played a significant role in the temporary switch to Greenock.
McGinn added: “They (my former St Mirren teammates) understand how much I want to play every week.
“The role I had at Hibs was more in the background helping Jack, but I still had that desire to play more games and not retire
yet.
“Probably that feeling is now backed up. I did it for the right reasons and thankfully I did because I really enjoyed it.
“I worked with Gus and Andy for a long time, albeit I was a bit younger and they gave me a harder time than I’ll get now.
“I know what I’m going to get and that I’m going to enjoy it, and they were a big part of the decision.”
