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Aston Villa captain John McGinn relishing his return to Hibs but expects to be targeted with obscenities from his former supporters... as his current side prepare for their first European game in 13 years

It took just three years as a Hibernian player for John McGinn to earn a place in the pantheon of Easter Road greats.

The all-action midfielder swiftly became a fans’ favourite on his arrival from St Mirren in 2015 before true legend status arrived the following year as a key member of the first Hibs team to lift the Scottish Cup since 1902.

Winning promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, and finishing fourth in the top flight in 2017-18, further burnished his reputation as the darling of the fans in Leith.

All McGinn’s Hibs fairytale lacked was a happy ending as he was denied the chance to say his goodbyes after signing for Aston Villa for £2.