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Josh Magennis is determined to keep proving his worth to Northern Ireland for as long as possible.<\/p>\n
When manager Michael O\u2019Neill said after last month\u2019s defeat to Kazakhstan he needed to evaluate some of the older players in his squad and whether they could still deliver for the team, the 33-year-old Magennis recognised he was among those under the spotlight.<\/p>\n
But a player who has 73 caps for Northern Ireland, having made his debut against Turkey in May 2010, still savours every opportunity to represent his country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s up to me to stay fit, perform at club level and when I get a chance in matches here or in training show I\u2019m still worth having around,\u201d Magennis told the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I\u2019m getting on but to me that\u2019s just an excuse, whether people say it for you or you say it yourself. If you still play with intent, with the sports science that\u2019s available now you can play endlessly. It\u2019s up to you to prove you are worth your place in the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Magennis went as far as telling fans at a meet-and-greet event in Belfast this week that he would fancy playing at Euro 2028 when it is hosted by the UK and Ireland in four and a half years\u2019 time, when he would be just shy of 37.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying for your country is the biggest accolade you\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Magennis said. \u201cI\u2019m never going to retire and nor will I ever say I\u2019ve retired.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Michael decides, or anyone else decides, they don\u2019t want me to come any more that\u2019s up to them but I can never retire on my country. That\u2019s not how I will be going out.\u201d<\/p>\n
His love of playing shines through as he discusses his season so far with League One Wigan and \u201criding the wave\u201d of being back after an injury lay-off.<\/p>\n
Magennis saw his 2022-23 campaign cut short by a bad knee injury in April, forcing him to miss Northern Ireland\u2019s June fixtures as he went through a lengthy rehabilitation process.<\/p>\n
Although Magennis got himself back to fitness by August, the early season form of Charlie Wyke, who has scored six in 11 for Wigan, has meant all but two of his 10 club appearances have been from the bench, but one of them saw him score a hat-trick in an EFL Trophy win over Leicester Under-21s.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlie has been on fire and I\u2019ve just had to wait for my chance,\u201d Magennis said. \u201cAt any level scoring goals is massive. The goals don\u2019t move. I\u2019m just feeling good to be back and ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goals would certainly not go amiss for a Northern Ireland side who have only scored four in their six Euro 2024 qualifiers to date, suffering four 1-0 defeats along the way.<\/p>\n
Qualification is beyond them but there is a clear opportunity to end a five-game losing streak when San Marino, the only team O\u2019Neill\u2019s side have beaten so far, visit Windsor Park on Saturday.<\/p>\n
But while they can change the mood with victory, Magennis said the team does not need a reset.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not about trying to change our mentality,\u201d he said. \u201cMichael is working towards something.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to say we\u2019re rebuilding but there\u2019s been an influx of new players, a lot of players Michael\u2019s not been around before and a lot of players who are experiencing international football for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just about trying to keep going, keep grafting and trying to implement what Michael wants us to do. It\u2019s been tough not winning. This is a results-based business and everyone wants to win but there\u2019s a process and Michael has proved this process has worked before. We\u2019ve got to trust in it.\u201d<\/p>\n