Northern Ireland new boy Conor McMenamin is eager to play his way into Ian Baraclough’s long term plans and not to be a ‘one hit wonder’ on the international stage.
McMenamin, who starred for Glentoran in the Irish League season, was a surprise call-up to the national squad for this month’s quadruple header in the Nations League.
And the 26-year-old, who impressed at last month’s training camp in England, is determined to shine if handed a debut over the course of the next fortnight.
Read more: Ian Baraclough has 'cross-channel' hope for Glentoran winger Conor McMenamin
Ahead of Thursday night’s home clash with Greece, he said: “This is only the start and I’m not just here for the craic or to make up the numbers.
“I want to impress the manager and I’m here to work hard and play games. Whether it’s in training or on a match day, I need to perform and be included in more squads.”
Three years ago McMenamin was just another Irish League player staring at an uncertain future in the game.
Out of favour under former Cliftonville boss Barry Gray and seemingly destined for the exit door at Solitude, few would have predicted the journey to come.
But after Paddy McLaughlin’s appointment as Reds boss in February 2019, an uptick in form and a move to Glentoran 18 months ago, the versatile winger is now surveying an entirely different vista.
After an impressive season of terrorising Irish League full-backs and scoring 22 goals in all competitions for the Glens, McMenamin stands on the cusp of a first international cap.
“Football is mad, isn’t it,” smiled the 26-year-old ahead of this month’s quadruple header in the Nations League.
“It’s a game of opinions and some managers like you more than others. Paddy came into Cliftonville and I owe him massively for turning my career around.
“He definitely got the best out of me and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be sitting here now.
“When I went full-time at Glentoran - thanks to Mick (McDermott) and Windy (Paul Millar) for giving me that opportunity - I worked harder on my game and it helped me improve.
“Did I expect a call-up? Not really. Obviously, I had a great season but I didn’t think too much about it. I’m just delighted to be here.”
Ian Baraclough has insisted a move to England or Scotland isn’t beyond McMenamin, but does the player himself, who turns 27 in August, harbour hopes of a cross-channel career?
“We all have dreams to play at the highest level and I am no different,” he said. “I read the manager’s comments and it gave me a lot of confidence coming into this camp.
“The Irish League has improved big time and whether you go across aged 17, 20 or 26 in my case, there are different ways of doing that and no single right way.
“If the opportunity arose to move to England or Scotland, I’d be delighted, but I have to keep my feet on the ground. I have to focus on doing well here for the next two weeks.”
McMenamin's immediate aim is to make his debut and join the likes of former Linfield midfielder and good mate Michael Gault who was capped against Georgia in 2008.
“Gaulty has been winding me up,” he smiled. “He told me that he’d be happy enough to see me get one cap, but if I get two he ‘can’t talk to me’.
“We’re really good friends and he was actually one of the first people on the phone to congratulate me. For him to have one cap is brilliant, but hopefully I can overtake him!
“Playing on an international stage would be brilliant for me, my family and those close to me, but I won’t get too far ahead of myself.”
McMenamin’s call-up, on the back of being part of a recent training camp at St George’s Park in England, is reward for a sizzling season in the Danske Bank Premiership.
“I treated the training camp as a chance to impress and to get called into the Nations League squad was a great feeling,” he said.
“I knew the likes of Gavin (Whyte), Trai (Hume) and Shayne (Lavery) from the Irish League, but all the boys have been great and helped me settle in really well.”
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