I’d love to score NI to the World
JOSH Magennis is trying to keep a lid on his excitement, but he’s destined to fail in that mission with Northern Ireland tantalisingly close to making the World Cup finals in Russia.
By his own admission, his career has been a “rollercoaster”, and the biggest high could be just around the corner.
The switch from goalkeeper to striker while at Cardiff City is well documented, but the Bangor man has continued to win new admirers with his growing maturity and composure on the international stage.
He’s been a key piece in Michael O’Neill’s jigsaw as the Northern Ireland boss has set about assembling another major miracle.
Magennis was on target in the 3-1 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Greece at Windsor Park which set the Green and White Army marching towards France, and he would love to make another big impact in the World Cup play-off battles with Switzerland.
The Swiss will be at fortress Windsor Park for the opener tomorrow night and they will face a green tide determined to destroy everything in its path.
“It is massive,” said Magennis. “It’s been a rollercoaster of a career and a lot of people have had their opinions about me.
“There have been doubts cast over my career, especially from my early days and going from being a goalkeeper to being a striker. I’m not the most technically gifted of players, but my attitude has got me as far as I can go and I have been able to maximise the most of my ability.
“In my head, that’s enough. I don’t go looking for accolades or acceptance. I just have confidence in my ability. And to say that you’ve played for your country, and then to say you’ve gone to a European Championship and hopefully a World Cup, it’s the stuff of dreams.
“It’s something you dream about as a kid, and to do it with this group of players would be nothing short of amazing.
“I feel I’ve improved a lot over this campaign. Technically I’ve learned a lot. Game knowledge and understanding, a lot of which has come from Michael O’Neill. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but it’s been a nice steady progression.
“And I don’t want to stop. I want to keep progressing and see how far my career takes me. I don’t want any regrets when I retire.”
And what about the prospect of scoring another huge goal, how would he be able to keep his emotions in check?
“It would be mad,” he said. “The boys keep saying, ‘Are you going to cry again? What’s nex t? ’.
“It’s the stuff of dreams. To score in the play-off to send Northern Ireland to the World Cup, or even play in a winning team, would be unbelievable.
“I don’t even have the emotion to describe it. I don’t know