JOHN McGinn, the Hibernian and Scotland midfielder who has one year left on his current contract at Easter Road, has stressed he has no desire to move on just now.

McGinn, once again impressive as his side beat Ladbrokes Premiership champions elect Celtic 2-1 at home on Saturday, has made no secret of his desire to play at a higher level in the past.

However, the 23-year-old, who has been repeatedly touted as a possible replacement for Scott Brown at Celtic, admitted he is loving life at Hibs and it would take “something special” to prise him away.

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“The speculation is something that’s always been there since my first season here,” he said. “I’m learning, I’m getting better and I’m loving playing in front of sell-out crowds.

“I feel as if I’m getting better all the time. At the same time, though, I’m ambitious. I want to go and test myself at a higher level.

“However, it would have to be something better than Hibs. I don’t take it for granted being here, I love it. I’m sure the rest of the boys are the same.”

McGinn added: “I’ve got a year left of my contract and it would have to be something special for me to leave.

“I’ve never changed the fact, or not respected, how good I’ve got it here. I love it, I’m getting better, I love playing with the boys here and before such supporters. I think the fans know that.

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“I’ve never hidden the fact I’m ambitious at some point. But that doesn’t need to be now. I think everyone, all parties, will know when the time’s right. It’s up to myself to keep playing away and keep focusing on what I’m doing.”

McGinn, Dylan McGeouch and Danny Swanson bossed Celtic midfielders Brown and Olivier Ntcham at Easter Road at the weekend as Hibs boosted their hopes of clinching second place in the Premiership with a richly deserved win.

But the seven-times capped player has revealed the constant comparisons which are made with the Parkhead captain irk him as he feels they have their own qualities and strengths.

“It’s something that bugs me a wee bit, getting compared to him,” he said. “I feel as if we’re different. We’re good pals off the park and we’re different players. He has something different to me and I have something different to him.

“I don’t think it’s unfair. Obviously, we are both hungry footballers, we work hard, we try to get in people’s faces, but people forget we can both play as well.

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“For me it’s nice to be compared to someone who’s had such an illustrious career, but at the same time I want to make my own name and put my stamp on things.”

While Brown looks set to enjoy a clean sweep of the Player of the Year awards which are handed out at this time of the season, it is less clear who will be crowned Manager of the Year.

Steve Clarke at Kilmarnock, Stephen Robinson at Motherwell and Brendan Rodgers at Celtic are all in the running as a result of their achievements with their respective clubs during the 2017/18 campaign.

But McGinn feels Lennon, who is attempting to lead the Championship winners to their first second place finish in the top flight in no fewer than 43 years, deserves to be in the running.

“He’s a certain contender for it,” he said. “I think with our budget, we’re probably about fourth or fifth. So if we go finish higher than that then I don’t see why it’s any different to Stephen Robinson, Steve Clarke or all the managers who are doing well for their clubs.”

“I don’t know if we are favourites for second place. I think still we’re probably underdogs. But this win over Celtic puts a marker down, makes it tougher for Kilmarnock to catch us although we’re not naïve enough to think they won’t. They’ve been on a great run.”