Hibs star John McGinn plans capital gains over their city rivals Hearts

JOHN McGINN has taken a swipe at Hearts by claiming their players could not handle the heat of playing for the Jambos as their campaign collapsed last term.

And the Easter Road ace is determined to enjoy more capital gains after insisting Hibs, unlike their city neighbours, have built a squad that can thrive in the Edinburgh cauldron.

Despite being in the division below their fierce rivals, Hibs dumped the Jambos out of the Scottish Cup last season, securing a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Tynecastle before comfortably dismantling Ian Cathro’s side 3-1 in Leith.

It is now SIX derbies without a win for Hearts as the sides prepare to do battle in the top-flight of Scottish football for the first time since 2014 – and McGinn has lobbed the first grenade.

“You have to be able to deal with the pressures that playing for a big club like Hibs brings. It’s not for everyone,” said McGinn.

“Ordinary players can’t do well here. You need to know what’s expected of you and I think everyone in our dressing room knows that. The support can be demanding and I like that.

“It’s probably the same across the city at Hearts. You could see when they brought in a lot of new players in January that, without being disrespectful to them, they just weren’t ready to go and play for a big club like Hearts.

“I’ll avoid being controversial and just say that Hibs are, at least, every bit as big as Hearts so the same applies.

“It takes a certain mentality to come here and play with character and style, the way they would at other clubs where the demands aren’t quite as high.”

With Hibs head coach, Neil Lennon, stating recently that they should target second place behind Celtic, expectations are already high ahead of a mouth-watering return to the Premeirship.

And, after some big talk, McGinn is acutely aware that there will be plenty of top-flight foes determined to put the Hibees back in their place next term.

“I think teams will come to Easter Road thinking they can maybe knock us down a peg or two,” he smiled.

“We’re used to that. We have been the big scalp from playing in the Championship.

“I don’t think much will change in that regard. Teams will come to Easter Road and set their stall out to hope to avoid defeat.”

Personally, McGinn is adamant he is in much better shape, physically and technically, as he returns to the Premiership for the first time since enduring the heartbreak of relegation with St Mirren in 2015.

“I’m absolutely a better player now than I was when I last played in the Premiership. I was very raw and slightly chubbier!” he recalled.

“There are always challenges that come your way, but I’m probably better prepared to deal with them now that I’ve been at Hibs.

“I’m a little older, wiser and we’ve had a few setbacks, so I think a lot comes with experience. I’m looking forward to proving that in the weeks and months ahead.”