Ross County forward Liam Boyce reckons shining for the Staggies can be a passport back to international football with Northern Ireland
Boyce was called up by Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill for May’s friendly against Qatar, coming on as a 74th minute substitute during the 1-1 draw at Crewe.
Boyce earned four caps for his country prior to moving to Victoria Park last summer, but now feels better equipped for international football after his successful first season in Scotland, during which he scored 11 goals in 33 appearances.
Northern Ireland are second in their qualification group for Euro 2016, and have a crucial double-header against Faroe Islands and Hungary next month.
And the County forward hopes continuing his goalscoring form for County can help him keep his place.
The 24-year-old said: “It was incredible to get the call to join the squad last season. On Wednesday, I saw the Northern Ireland manager was watching Josh Magennis at Kilmarnock, who were playing Celtic. It is great he shows interest in players over here.
“Back home with Cliftonville, I got picked a couple of times but I never really felt I’d get much of a chance to play.
“Now, playing at a higher level, if I can do the business for my club I have the confidence he is going to take a good look at playing me.
“I won four caps earlier in my career, two at Cliftonville and two in Germany while I was at Werder Bremen.
“Compared to then, I felt a big difference in my fitness joining the international squad this time.
“Even Steve Robinson, the Motherwell assistant manager who is number two with Northern Ireland, was telling me I looked very sharp.
“He told me to keep improving, and who knows where it will take me?”
Boyce’s international call helped him maintain fitness throughout the summer, and he is determined to find the net for the first time this season when County take on Hearts at Victoria Park today.
Boyce added: “I was still training so my fitness levels didn’t drop and it gave me a platform to build on in pre-season.”