Returning to NI squad ‘a main goal’ for McMenamin

Conor McMenamin says his top priority will be to make up for his absence from the Northern Ireland squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy in March.

After suffering a serious knee injury and an Achilles problem, the 30-year-old has been missing from NI manager Michael O’Neill’s international plans for the past year.

McMenamin is now returning to match fitness every week, playing a significant role in his team’s 3-1 Scottish League Cup victory over Celtic and getting regular game time for the Buddies.

The former Cliftonville and Glentoran international has nine international caps to date, including his only goal in a 3-0 Euro qualifier win over San Marino in October 2023 when he made his debut against Cyprus in a Nations League game in 2022.

The pinnacle of any player’s career is playing for their country, McMenamin said. “I’ve had a lot of injuries in the last couple of years.

“To try to secure a seat on that plane for Italy, that would be my main goals going forward.”

It’s going to be a really difficult match, but I believe we can win it, of course. That would be a big goal since we have a strong squad there and I enjoy playing for Northern Ireland.

After St. Mirren outsmarted Celtic in the Hampden Park final, McMenamin said his NI team-mates were in contact with him.

As soon as the final whistle went last week, all of Northern Ireland’s staff greeted me and the team on the phone.

When we travel with Northern Ireland, the players stay in touch even when we are not together, which is a very close group.

With the outcomes we’ve had, and Michael O’Neill’s accomplishments over the past few years demonstrate that. We’re a really tight knit group, and we’ll be ready to leave in March.

McMenamin has recently been playing for his club in an unheard left wing-back position despite playing typically in a forward role.

Everyone involved with the club has had a good time over the past few weeks, and when the cup final comes to an end, you forget about the injuries and the work you’ve done to get back together, he continued.

It’s good for me personally to return to the game and play regularly for the team.

“Stephen Robinson, the gaffer, and the boys have been playing well,” Stephen Robinson said, “is obviously like the shape.” We as players have a role in shaping up to fit that mold, and we discussed how my performances in that role helped me build trust.

It’s all about risk, they say. If you’re not succeeding, someone will be there to take your place. We have a great squad. Everyone is kept on their toes, thanks.