Express & Star

Albion's Gareth McAuley: International spotlight ideal to impress head coach Alan Irvine – or other clubs

Published
Last updated

Albion defender Gareth McAuley admits the international spotlight is the ideal "shop window" for him to impress head coach Alan Irvine – or other clubs.

more

The 34-year-old, who is yet to play in the Premier League for the Baggies this season, will captain Northern Ireland for the fourth time tonight when they face Romania in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

McAuley has played a key role in Northern Ireland's record-breaking start to the qualifying campaign and they will be aiming to make it four wins from four in Bucharest.

A pre-season injury has seen the two-time Albion player of the year fall behind Joleon Lescott and Craig Dawson in the Hawthorns pecking order.

And he knows nights like tonight are the ideal chance to remind Irvine, or indeed others, of his qualities.

"Coming away with Northern Ireland is always good and playing for the international team is also a shop window, either to impress my club manager or, if things don't work out, for another club in the future," he said.

[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text="Would you be sad to see McAuley leave if he was offered a contract elsewhere?" button="Log in and start commenting"]

"I will give my best for Northern Ireland and when I get back to West Brom I will do exactly the same and hopefully things will change for me.

"My club situation has not been ideal this season but I've been in the game long enough to know things can change very quickly.

"I picked up an injury in pre-season and then missed the start of the season and lost my place in the team.

[related_posts title="More on McAuley"]

"That's the first time that has happened to me in my career but I'm experienced enough to know how to deal with it. I've been working hard to try to get my place back and have been doing a lot of extra training.

"I have experienced highs and lows in my career and don't get carried away either way."