Hibs defender Paul McGinn hopes Scottish Cup semi-final with Hearts can go ahead in front of fans as he looks ahead to next season

Hibernian's Paul McGinn is pictured at the training centre on March 02, 2020. (Photo by Bill Murray / SNS Group)

For Hibs defender Paul McGinn, and all the other Scottish Premiership footballers left in limbo since the game went into abeyance 10 weeks ago, Monday's decision to conclude the season finally brought some closure.

But while any thoughts of fulfilling the outstanding fixtures can now be put to bed, there remains uncertainty over what the future holds in terms of a start date for the new season, whether games will be behind closed doors, or even what format training will take.

Hibs also have the small matter of the postponed Scottish Cup semi-final against derby rivals Hearts to resolve, with both clubs understandably keen for the tournament to be resumed at some point.

Having watched his younger brother John, now with Aston Villa, become a Hibs legend after lifting the Scottish Cup in 2016, ending the club's 114-year wait for the trophy, McGinn is desperate to follow in his footsteps.

Importance of that final

"You could tell it meant a lot to everyone involved at Hibs, especially when they were getting the 'Hibsed it' phrase that season,” he said. “That was getting thrown about quite a lot so I think it meant a lot to them.

“They played Falkirk in the play-offs that season and pretty much battered them but got beat and it was just, 'oh no, hear we go again'. To then take the lead in the cup final, then go behind, it was just so good for them to show character to come back and win it.

"It would be great to help them win it again, it's just a shame we might not get to play our semi-final, but you never know. I don't know what they'll do with it, but it would be good to get another attempt to do that again.

"I'd love to get it played, especially now if the derbies aren't going to happen in the league. It would be a massive game.

"I did see they were mooting that it might get moved into next season, but we'll just have to wait and see. Everyone involved would love for it to happen, but it would be a waste for it to happen in an empty stadium. We'll just have to see how it plays out."

It may be several months yet before Scottish football gets back to any semblance of normality, but McGinn, who joined from St Mirren in January, says he can at least focus on next season now that a line has been drawn under the 2019/20 campaign.

Some closure

"It was expected for a while now that this would have to happen due to the situation we find ourselves in. It's good to just finally move on and look forward to a new season starting sometime soon," he said.

"When it looked like it was happening (the season being called) we were told just to relax and do nothing this week and last because beforehand we were still having to send in our runs and cycles.

"The club said to go away for two weeks and put the feet up, so we've had our summer holidays. Now it's just a waiting game to see what happens.

"Obviously we see the other countries starting to make a move, but if it’s a new season, we've got a bit more time than those countries.

"After this week I'll start preparing again, not hammering it the same way knowing I'll be going back to do a pre-season, but just making sure you're in decent enough shape so when it does come around you're not miles behind.

"That's part of the issue. They need to give us so much training before the games start, but knowing me, and from playing football, I'd rather just get it started as soon as possible.

"Then you're hoping by next year there's more normality, and if you get it started you can then get into a more normal season as soon as normal life hopefully creeps back."

After watching the Bundesliga action at the weekend, which was the first major European league to resume behind closed doors, McGinn admits he would find it strange playing in front of an empty Easter Road.

Just the way it is

"It was weird. It definitely felt a bit more like pre-season games," he said. "It wouldn't be as enjoyable, but for the next while it's going to be that. No-one really wants it but it's just the way it goes.

"Everyone knows when entire countries are shutting up shop there's good reason for it. We just need to be careful and make sure we can keep everyone healthy."

The decision to end the season on a points-per-game average saw Hibs miss out on a top six finishing, dropping back into seventh place, with St Johnstone leapfrogging them due to having one-tenth of a point more.

St Johnstone and a funny video

"It was unfortunate, because I think St Johnstone had Rangers to play so it wouldn't have been an easy fixture for them, but that's just the way it goes," McGinn added. "There will be a lot of teams feeling more hard done to than us so just need to take it on the chin."

McGinn is now waiting for the call to return to Easter Road, but for now, he is continuing to combine his home workouts with dad duties during lockdown, which have been easier said than done, as his Instagram followers will testify.

“I’ve got a two-year-old boy so he's just relentlessly wanting your attention and you need to watch him constantly, so it's been hard going,” he said.

“I had a video on my Instagram and it was me trying to do exercises when I was sending them into the club, and he was just interrupting them all the time. My better half kept filming it and it's quite a funny video.”