Chart-topper Boyce can be World Cup hit with County
LIAM BOYCE last night celebrated finishing the season as the Premiership’s top scorer — and insisted another year at Ross County could help him fire his way to the World Cup finals.
The striker is the subject of strong interest from both sides of the border after 23 league goals and 24 in all competitions. But with one year left on his contract, the Dingwall club are adamant he will not be sold unless a big offer comes in.
Boyce, who scored twice in Saturday’s win at Rugby Park, is now preparing for international duty as Northern Ireland play New Zealand in a friendly in Belfast on June 2 before their Russia 2018 qualifier in Azerbaijan eight days later.
A fixture in Michael O’Neill’s squads of late, he is eager to add to his seven caps for a team sitting second in Group C behind Germany. And Boyce, 26, knows another year of regular games and goals at County might be what he needs to stake a claim for a starting slot.
‘Scoring goals here has given me a chance to get back in the national team, so the more minutes on the pitch the better for me,’ he said. ‘I’m happy where I am. Obviously, Northern Ireland have done well and we’re thinking about qualifying for the World Cup.
‘I’ve got a year left here. I’ll try and get some minutes in for Northern Ireland over the summer and come back ready to go.
‘If anything happens, they’ll have to go through the club and my agent. I don’t like getting involved in that, I don’t want to take my eye off the ball.
‘To score 23 in the league and 24 in total is unbelievable. It’s been unreal for me. We play with wingers, which is great. It’s just a case of trying to get the touch when the ball goes into the box.’
Boss Jim McIntyre felt County’s first goal on Saturday, which cancelled out an early penalty from Conor Sammon, could have been given to Christopher Routis. His shot looked like it might have crossed the line before Jamie MacDonald punched the ball off Boyce and saw it go into the net.
Boyce claimed it, though, and later pounced on an error by Kristoffer Ajer to lob MacDonald to earn the three points which ensured County finished seventh.
‘My first goal was lucky because I was on the line and the keeper punched it off my face, but I’ll take it,’ he said. ‘To get the second was a bonus.’
O’Neill was in Kilmarnock to watch Boyce end his best ever season on a high, but the striker was unhappy with his display.
‘I didn’t know Michael was here and I don’t know whether I’m happy about that or not because I don’t think I played that well. Thankfully, I scored,’ he said.
Boyce has put much of his improvement over the past season down to the specialist coaching he’s received from McIntyre and assistant Billy Dodds, both accomplished strikers in their time.
‘The gaffer has been great telling me about back-post movement and headers, while Doddsy is all about movement in the box and second balls, so it’s perfect.
‘I’ve improved big-time at Ross County. Over in Ireland, I was more like a No 10 where I tried to make stuff happen.
‘Over here, it’s more competitive and the players are fitter. I’ve tried to concentrate more on my movement in the box. I’ve gone to the next level as a striker.’
Meanwhile, Rory McKenzie has revealed Lee McCulloch told the Kilmarnock squad he intends to re-establish them as a top-six team next season.
Caretaker McCulloch met with directors Billy Bowie and John Kiltie at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the 1997 Scottish Cup win on Saturday and is expected to agree a deal to become permanent manager this week.
‘He knows all the boys and I think he’ll be very successful,’ said 23-year-old McKenzie. ‘I hope we get it sorted. He said in the changing room after the game he has big plans and gave us an idea of what to expect.
‘We’ve stayed up and finished eighth but we need to finish in the top six — and he stressed that.’
Killie midfielder Greg Kiltie was taken to hospital on Saturday with a suspected broken ankle and looks certain to miss the Toulon tournament with Scotland Under-20s.