Ross County defender Andy Boyle is intent on helping the Staggies achieve their goal of promotion to the Premiership after signing on loan from Preston North End.
Irishman Boyle, who played 13 games during a previous loan stint with top-flight side Dundee earlier this season, had initially returned to his parent club at the start of this month but is now on the move again after joining County until the end of the season.
Having been involved in a relegation dogfight with the Dark Blues, Boyle now has a different agenda as he aims to steer the Dingwall side back to the Premiership at the first time of asking.
Boyle said: “It was Neil McCann who brought me in to Dundee at first and I played most games under him.
“I got a lot of games, which was what I needed, up until the break on December 29. I enjoyed my time there but I just want to kick on now.
“It’s a different challenge now, we are going for promotion which is where the club wants to be. I get that vibe when I speak to everyone around the place.
“First and foremost I’m focused on getting Ross County back to the Premiership. There’s plenty football to play, there are a lot of games coming up in February.
“It’s something I want to be part of, and something I was sold on by everyone involved was that there’s a real chance to achieve something by coming to Ross County.
“When I weighed everything up I had options down south and options back home, but this was the one which stuck out in my mind as something I wanted to be involved in.”
Boyle’s solitary cap for Republic of Ireland came in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Iceland at Aviva Stadium in March 2017, and the 27-year-old hopes impressing for the Staggies can rekindle his international prospects.
He added: “It was a great experience. It’s an old cliche that it’s every boy’s dream to play for their country, but it really is.
“It meant a lot for not only myself, but my family and friends. My debut was in Dublin so they all went all out to come to it.
“That was a great time, and when you get a little taste of it you want a bit more.
“If I’m out on the pitch, I’ve got more of a chance of staking a claim for getting recognition.”
Boyle is out of contract at Deepdale in the summer but insists his long-term future is on the backburner for the meantime, adding: “It’s a loan deal at first, so we will see what happens from then on.
“The best way to look at it is to try and get into the Premiership and we will go from then.”
