Mcginn is fired up to get a crack at Bulgaria
Winger hopes his stunning strike against USA can blast him into manager’s plans
NIALL Mcginn has told Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough that he would relish a shot at Bulgaria and would be confident he could deliver for him in tomorrow’s crunch World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park.
Not for the first time in his 13-year international career, Mcginn delivered a moment of magic when he scored a breathtaking goal in Sunday’s 2-1 friendly defeat to USA in Belfast.
Post-match, the Aberdeen winger couldn’t — nor did he want to — disguise his disappointment at originally being put on standby for Northern Ireland’s triple header this month.
Called into the squad after Jordan Jones pulled out through injury, Mcginn didn’t play in the team’s opening World Cup qualifying loss to Italy, but boy did the 33-year-old show what he was all about in a late cameo role against the Americans with a stunning volley from the angle of the box that had many thinking of Marco van Basten’s spectacular strike in the Netherlands’ Euro ’88 final victory over Russia.
It was a beauty and added to memorable international moments for Mcginn such as a superb finish in a 1-1 draw in Portugal when Cristiano Ronaldo won his 100th cap, the vital opener in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign away to Hungary and, best of all, his never to be forgotten effort in the finals when Ukraine were beaten 2-0.
There was also a super goal in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final in Bosnia which earned Northern Ireland a triumphant penalty shoot-out.
Forever one of the Kings of Lyon, Mcginn still believes he has much to offer and revealed retiring from international football has never crossed his mind.
“No, definitely not,” asserted the former Dungannon Swifts and Derry City winger.
“I’ve said before that once the manager doesn’t want me or Northern Ireland don’t want me, that will be the day I’ll retire. It’s never come into my head. It won’t come into my head until I’m no longer wanted.
“It was a disappointing phone call I received to say I was on standby and wasn’t going to be in the squad.
“I played and scored against Bosnia and played in the play-off final (versus Slovakia), so to be left out of the squad was a massive disappointment.
“I haven’t been given many opportunities under Ian but any opportunity I get, it’s about making the most of it. I knew against Italy I wasn’t going to get a chance, and with Bulgaria I maybe won’t get a chance, but hopefully what I did against the USA will give the manager something to think about.
“I enjoy coming away and playing whenever I can. I’m not the one to moan or be a bad distraction amongst the boys. Any opportunity I get to be on the pitch, I’m very happy.
“I’d relish a chance against Bulgaria. The manager has made it clear tome and the other players that we are probably going to play that 3-5-2 formation and, although it doesn’t suit out and out wingers, I haven’t been given opportunities to play the wing back role or off the striker.
“In recent weeks, I’ve been playing off the striker at Aberdeen and been doing fine. It’s alright saying I can’t play here or can’t play there but it’s being given those opportunities and I haven’t and that’s probably the honest truth.
“I played my first game (under Baraclough) against Bosnia in the play-off semi-final and scored, but the USA game was
‘Hopefully what I did against the USA will give the manager something to think about’
only my third appearance under the new manager. I have three appearances and two goals. It’s not a bad stat.
“I have been an international player for a long time and come up with good moments. I’m experienced and reliable as well. Even when sort of under the new manager we haven’t been firing on all cylinders and haven’t scored a lot of goals, myself, Josh (Magennis), Boycie (Liam Boyce), Gavin (Whyte) and Paddy (Mcnair) are the only players who have scored under him.
“I’m the type of player that can always get myself in good positions and can create a chance or two.”
Mcginn described his goal on Sunday as his best ever. He had one regret inside the empty Windsor Park, though.
“I just wish the fans had been there to see it,” he said.
“It was my sixth goal for Northern Ireland. Scoring against Estonia (in 2019) was a massive moment for me because I always wanted to score at Windsor Park and the goal against USA was unbelievable.
“It is one I need to sit back and look over. It was a proud moment for me and my family. I haven’t seen my family in a long time and they will have been sitting at home watching it and been proud.
“For me, I’ve always felt if you work hard you’ll always get your rewards.
“I felt that was the case with the Euros. If you look back at the Euros, I didn’t get that much game time, but to score the goal, I would take that over anything. It is down to me to keep working hard and when called upon hopefully I’ll be ready.”