Killie star Josh bins Euro rest

Kilmarnock striker Josh Magennis has revealed he cut short his post-Euro 2016 recovery time to be prepared for the domestic season.

Magennis was part of the Northern Ireland team that surpassed expectations by reaching the knockout stages in France, only missing out on the quarter-finals by virtue of an unfortunate own goal against Wales.

And the 25- year- old hitman has been imbued with a new lease of life after mixing it with some of the best players in the world.

He said: “It’s good to be back to the domestic stage.

“I had the opportunity to have more time off but I’m not one of those players who can leave it for a long time, come back and expect to turn it on. I need to hit the ground running.

“I could maybe have had an extra five days, up to a week. But at that stage it’s not like you are not doing anything. I’d have been in the gym ticking over.

“It’s completely pointless – I would rather come back and play football instead of running on a treadmill.”

Magennis, never the most shy and retiring of pros, insists his confidence is at an al l- t ime high af ter getting game time against Germany, Ukraine and the Welsh at Euro 2016.

He added: “The Euros was surreal. We are always the underdog and people were writing us off.

“But our group dynamic is unbelievable and to play and train against quality players who ply their trade in the Engl ish Premier League was brilliant.

“I was fortunate enough to be in a training camp for six weeks with players of that cal ibre. Everybody aspires to that level.

“Coming back from the Euros has given me a confidence I will never again match – unless we go to the World Cup! It ’ s ju st something I want to continue. I don’t want to take a back-step now.”