'Brutal honesty’ words of comfort as Northern Ireland veteran embraces how boss 'doesn't carry anybody'
Until Josh Magennis’ international career ends with “an amicable handshake” he will continue to embrace the “brutal honesty” of a relationship with Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill built over a decade-plus of service, sweat and smiles.
The 35-year-old striker has been praised for a contribution to his country across senior camps since a 2010 debut celebrated for high energy on and off the field.
Magennis may now serve the role of senior striker but retains his same hunger at an opportunity to pull on the Northern Ireland jersey – with special words for the bond developed under O’Neill over so long together in pursuit of pride from progress.
The Bangor-born forward accepts his recent recall after time out as “never personal, it was just obviously all business” given Magennis’ hip surgery.
“I just knew when I got my hip surgery sorted that I would be back playing and be able to contribute again at club level, which would hopefully be enough to solidify my place playing international football and that's managed to be the case,” said Magennis. "I tell my kids all the time...you can play bad but you can never quit on yourself.
“The beauty of being able to have a relationship with Michael for this amount of time is the brutal honesty that we have with each other...as long as he’s telling me I have a legitimate chance of playing for my country then I’ll never retire.
"But if that ever changes, of course, it’ll be an amicable handshake.
"He doesn't carry anybody...there's nobody here that's just here to make up the numbers, whether you're someone of 35, like me...senior pro, 80-odd-caps...or someone who's just coming in the squad.
"To come away and play for your country is a massive honour, but to come away and think that you should be playing is probably a bit egotistical.
“It's bigger than yourself...it goes beyond you.
"Whether it's formation, the type of team we're playing against...there's loads and loads of variables (to selection).
"But I come in here and I'm in a fit state of mind to make sure that if I'm called upon, I'm planning on playing 90 minutes.
“As you get to a more senior role - or you're seen as a senior player - your rapport with not just the manager but the staff means you can ask questions without it being condescending and they can be more direct with you knowing it's not going to hurt you.
"When I first came into the squad we played a 4-3-3, so there was a high chance of three forwards playing across the front line, which was why at times I played out on the right.
"But now with the transition of where the squad is, a 3-4-3 more or less means you're only playing with one striker and you're playing with a different profile in the 10.
"That profile is not the same as, say, Isaac Price and Michael would not ask me to do what he does in the 10, as much as he wouldn't ask Isaac to do what I do as a nine.
"So it's just about just staying fit, active and ready to go...I feel as good as I have in the last two or three years.”