Grigg insists he has never wavered from the cause
WILL GRIGG says he never considered quitting international football with Northern Ireland despite the frustration of Euro 2016. Grigg scored in the 2-1 Nations League defeat by Bosnia at Windsor Park on his first appearance for nearly two years. The absence has raised questions over the 27year-old striker’s international future. He failed to make a single appearance at the Euros in France despite a 28goal season for Wigan and the popularity of a song dedicated to him. Manager Michael O’Neill grew tired of answering questions about Will
Grigg’s On Fire, which became the unofficial anthem of the tournament, and the player later admitted that he was ‘devastated’ not to play. But Grigg claims that helping Wigan win promotion back to the Championship and a longterm knee injury were the reasons for his prolonged absence from the international scene. ‘There has never been a case where I didn’t want to play for Northern Ireland and I’m really pleased to do so,’ he said. ‘It has been frustrating but people forget I was out for six or seven months and it took me a while to get back. ‘There have been a few occasions when I’ve been left out and others when I’ve had to stay at Wigan because we’ve had so many important games. ‘You want to play for your country. If I get a chance, I feel I can score goals. I proved that.’ Grigg came on as a substitute and finally found a way past Bosnia goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic in stoppage time to score only his second international goal. He almost got another in the dying seconds but couldn’t prevent a harsh defeat after Northern Ireland dominated only to concede goals to Haris Duljevic and Elvis Saric. Grigg hopes to start tomorrow’s friendly against Israel at Windsor Park. N IRELAND (4-2-3-1): PeacockFarrell 6; McLaughlin 6.5 (Boyce 70min, 6.5), J Evans 6.5, Cathcart 5.5, Lewis 7; McGinn 7 (Ward 76, 6.5), Norwood 7, Davis 7, Saville 6.5, Dallas 8; Lafferty 6 (Grigg 69, 7).