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Niall McGinn on Northern Ireland

12 November 2014

Niall McGinn is away this week with Northern Ireland ahead of their forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifying match away to Romania on Friday 14th November 2014. Before leaving he spoke to RedMatchday.

Understandably, he’s more than relatively happy with his international form as Northern Ireland have got off to a perfect start in their European Championship qualifiers with three wins out of three. Then again, when he spoke to us earlier in the season, he was quietly confident Northern Ireland could do well.

“The start has been incredible. It was a very difficult set of fixtures but we have thrived on it. That has shown in our performances. There is a real buzz about the team and a real confidence. All of that has come from the Hungary game. To go behind and then come back and get the win was great and to be involved and to score my second international goal was extra special. I also played a part in the winner. It is a night I will always remember.

“Then to go and get a win in Greece was another great achievement. Although I did not play, it was brilliant watching the boys get a result. To be part of the current squad is very enjoyable. There are a lot of exciting times ahead hopefully. We know though that it is a long, long campaign. Next up in November, we play Romania away and they are currently second in the group, so that’s a massive game.

“Then next year we play all our rivals for qualification at home. Windsor Park is a great environment to play football. We have shown over many years that on our night, we can beat anyone there. We just have to keep doing the things we have been doing.

“There is a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes and we are taking that onto the pitch in the game nights. We know we have the players who can create chances.

“I am delighted for Michael O’Neill. He has done a great job. He was maybe under a bit of pressure during the middle of the last campaign, which was unfair. We put in some good performances but the results were not there. He brought Billy McKinlay in as coach and I thought he was excellent. His knowledge of the game and his training was very impressive. Everything was spot on with him. He then of course moved on to the Watford job, so Jim Magilton and Stephen Robinson have come in and have done a good job.

“It is always nice to see Josh when I go away with Northern Ireland as he is an old team mate and a good friend. It is great to see him doing well. I have been keeping a close eye on his progress at Kilmarnock and he has been playing week in week out. I was speaking to Sammy Clingan, who is a very good friend of mine, and he said everyone is very pleased with him at Kilmarnock. He is playing every week and is improving because of that. He is enjoying his football and it is good to see.”

Niall has had no break from the game after being away in South America with Northern Ireland in the summer and then coming straight into our early start to the season. Not that Niall is complaining, but the manager has taken a sensible approach to the situation, again highlighting his excellent man management skills which all the players speak about in their programme interviews.

“It can be a little difficult at times because you are not really getting a break but I am really enjoying it. If you asked most players out there, they would say they would like to be in my situation. They would want to be playing for a club like Aberdeen, playing for a good side week in week out which is doing well, and playing international football.

“Being a professional footballer, you want to play all the time and I am fortunate that I am getting the opportunity to do so. We do need a little break now and again and the manager and Tony Docherty have always been very good and very approachable if I ever need any time off.”

 

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