McGinn comparisons 'a really good compliment' for Mulligan

Josh Mulligan is flattered by comparisons with John McGinn as he "strives" to emulate the Scotland midfielder and former Hibs hero.

Mulligan, a summer arrival from Dundee, has impressed in his early Easter Road career and scored a stunning strike last weekend to seal the 2-0 win over Livingston and set up a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final trip to Rangers next month.

The 22-year-old is now looking to help Hibs build a first-leg lead over Legia Warsaw in tonight's Conference League play-off.

"Obviously McGinn was a great player, he's still a great player," said Mulligan.

"To be compared to someone like him is a really good compliment. But I just thought I'd focus on my own game and not try to get caught up in that or start comparing myself to other players.

"It's a nice comparison. In the last five years, he's been a massive player for Scotland as well, probably one of the most influential.

"To look at him, he's someone you want to look at and strive for."

With Hibs' exploits in Europe catching the eye, Mulligan hopes it can help him break into Steve Clarke's Scotland squad and become an international team-mate of McGinn.

"There's other players my age that have managed to break in," the Under-21 midfielder added.

"You try not to think about it too much. You just think, play well in the next game. If you keep doing that, you never know.

"The European stuff has definitely helped because you're playing against better teams and more exposure and all that stuff.

"Hopefully in the next two games against Legia, we can get a good result and make a bit of history as well."