Paul McGinn has revealed that he and his brother Stephen are desperate to secure three points for Dundee against Motherwell and to help their younger sibling John’s relegation battle at St Mirren.
Paul, who joined the Dark Blues during the summer from Dumbarton, was delighted when Stephen signed a deal at Dens last month after leaving Sheffield United.
The Dundee duo and the rest of their team-mates are currently riding high, having moved into the top six thanks to a seven-game unbeaten run in the league.
In contrast, the youngest McGinn is part of a Buddies team sitting third bottom on the same points as the Steelmen and just three ahead of rock bottom Ross County and he is looking for a big favour this weekend.
Paul McGinn said: “It’s good to have my brother here and I think it was a bit of a coup getting him. Whenever I went to England to see him he was doing really well and I thought he would kick on but he got a bad injury.
“He looks fit now and the sharper he gets the better he will get. We don’t share digs, he just got a place in Perth so hopefully I can have the spare room a few nights.
“But it’s our other brother John who wants help from us both this weekend. He has already chinned us about getting a result against Motherwell. He told us St Mirren are in a dogfight and they need us to do them a favour against Motherwell.
“If we don’t get a result, then I don’t think we’ll be going home. No pressure!
“Seriously, Motherwell haven’t been on the best run so we’ll be looking to start well because we don’t want to give them an inch.
“They’ve got a lot of new bodies in so that might have given them a wee lift.
“We started well against them the last time down there with a couple of goals a great one from David Clarkson and Gary Harkins with his famous celebration and it would be good to do that again.”
McGinn was the first to admit that last weekend’s narrow win over Partick Thistle was far from a good performance but at this stage of the season, results are the most important thing.
He said: “I’m sure the fans would have accepted three points last week regardless of the performance. We felt in December we had played a bit better and weren’t picking up results so maybe this is the luck changing.
“We haven’t been playing as well but still grinding out results and we’ve got to be pleased with that. We’re hoping to hit form again soon and by that time we should have a good base to build on.
“We haven’t lost in seven in the league so it’s a good run.
“We still need to set our sights high because if you don’t then you’ll only go backwards. Motherwell are on the type of bad run we were on and we’re hoping that continues but they’re a good team and we need to be wary.
“Motherwell have finished second the last two seasons so it’s surprising to see them in the position they are in because there hasn’t been a big turnaround in players. It’s one of those things where losing becomes a habit just as winning is.
“Confidence is massive in football, everyone will tell you that, and they’re struggling a bit from that.”
Dundee have been badly hit with injuries all season with full-back McGinn even having to be pressed into service as a midfielder on occasion.
He admits he is happy to play anywhere for the team but just don’t expect him to perform in the middle like a certain Juventus player.
He said: “We’ve hardly been able to field the same team on a regular basis this season because of the injuries we’ve had but we just need to get on with it. When I’ve played in defence it’s always been a different back four and I’ve even had a few games in midfield.
“It’s definitely different playing in midfield but I felt I did OK. There’s no pressure because nobody is expecting me to be Paul Pogba. I can just go in there and work my socks off.”
McGinn and Dundee have held talks about the defender extending his deal at the club, something the player admitted he would be delighted to do.
He added: “I’ve spoken to the club about possibly extending my deal but nothing concrete. I’d love to stay.
“I didn’t realise how big they were until I came up and I’m pleased at how it has gone.
“You always trust yourself as a player and I was confident if I got a run of games I’d do well in the league. I had a dip before Christmas due to a back injury but I’m over that and I want to kick on and get back to the level I want to be at.”