On a recent episode of the Daily Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, host Gordon Smart brought attention to John McGinn, labeling him as the Premier League’s most underrated player. Smart also shared an unusual story about a freak accident during a training session that unexpectedly influenced McGinn’s career path.

Back in 2015, McGinn was just 20 years old and was already a key player for St. Mirren in Scotland’s top league, having joined the first team at the age of 17. The energetic midfielder had already claimed the Scottish League Cup victory in 2013 and was attracting attention from several English clubs.

However, during the 2014/15 season, both McGinn’s form and that of St. Mirren began to decline, with the team battling against relegation. McGinn, who would later become an international player for Scotland, admitted that the speculation about Premier League interest was a distraction and negatively impacted his performance.

On the latest episode of the Whistleblowers podcast, Gordon Smart recounts a freak injury John McGinn sustained in a prank gone wrong that inadvertently shaped his career

In 2015, a 20-year-old McGinn was a regular starter for St. Mirren in Scotland’s top division, having broken into the first team at 17

The athletic midfielder had already won the Scottish League Cup in 2013 and was attracting interest from several English clubs

On the podcast, Gordon Smart recounted: “While at St. Mirren, the captain, Steven Thompson, accidentally threw one of the training poles, which pierced McGinn’s thigh like a javelin.”

Smart further revealed, “At the time, they feared it might end his career. The insurance issues for St. Mirren were so severe, they had to release him. That’s how he ended up at Hibernian. Steven Thompson still feels deep remorse over it.”

According to reports, the incident occurred during a dribbling exercise where players were required to maneuver between two poles, simulating dodging between opposing players.

During the drill, McGinn had dispossessed Thompson. As a joke, Thompson removed one of the poles from the ground and threw it in the direction of the midfielder, who was moving away from his teammate.

Yet, just as Thompson threw the pole, McGinn executed a Cruyff turn and it hit him in the thigh.

The incident proved catastrophic for both player and club. McGinn’s transfer prospects dimmed during his recovery, while St. Mirren tumbled into relegation and were forced to part ways with their prized asset.

After a brief stint training with MLS side Houston Dynamo, McGinn would join second division side Hibernian in the summer for a measley ‘development fee’ – a far cry from what St. Mirren could have commanded if the Premier League had come knocking.

However, it was at Hibs that McGinn would turn his form around. Across three seasons, the midfielder would guide the team to promotion back to the Scottish Premiership and a Scottish Cup triumph in 2016, ending a 114 year trophy drought.

 Across three seasons at Hibs, McGinn would guide the team to promotion back to the Scottish Premiership and a Scottish Cup triumph in 2016

He played a pivotal role in the Scotland team that competed in Euro 2024 and recently qualified for the 2026 World Cup

He was also nominated for Scotland’s player of the year in 2018.

‘I remember when he played for us, you always had a feeling, even when we were behind, that we would escape with something’, Hibs fan Smart said.

‘He had this ability to lift the team – a never give up attitude. He could grab a game by the scruff of the neck and turn things around, just with a little bit of that grit and determination.’

In 2018, McGinn would swap Scottish football for the English game, joining Aston Villa. He was part of the team that won promotion to the Premier League in his first season and, as captain, led them back into the Champions League in 2024 for the first time in over 40 years.

He also played a pivotal role in the Scotland team that competed in Euro 2024 and recently qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

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