Robbie McDaid has vowed to continue shutting out the “noise” on his future as he focuses on Glentoran’s title challenge in the second half of the season.
The talented striker, who scored the winner in Friday night’s pulsating 2-1 victory at Crusaders, is out of contract in the summer.
It goes without saying Mick McDermott is keen to keep one of his star players and the Oval boss said last week a new deal remains on the table.
But while a question mark hangs over his future, McDaid insists he won’t be distracted by “media talk” as the Big Two giants chase their first Gibson Cup in 13 years.
Friday’s crucial victory at Seaview kept McDermott’s men hot on the tail of derby rivals and reigning champions Linfield at the summit.
“It’s just noise,” said McDaid when asked about recent speculation on his future.
“Listen, that’s for the media to talk about. I’m just focused on turning up, putting in a shift and getting three points for Glentoran.
“It’s just noise. I’ll just focus on me and the team and that’s all I can do. There are a lot of big games coming up and that’s what I’m focused on.
“For me, it’s all about getting into this Glentoran team, keeping your spot and trying to score goals.”
An early Josh Robinson header had the Crues, who lost Jude Winchester to a second-half red card, ahead on Friday night before Conor McMenamin rifled home an unstoppable equaliser.
McDaid won it with a clinical header from a McMenamin cross to register his seventh goal of the season and his third in three games following a recent double against Dergview in the Irish Cup.
It was Glentoran’s second 2-1 win in North Belfast in four days following on from a victory over Cliftonville at Solitude, live on Sky, last Monday.
“I said before the Crusaders game that three points against Cliftonville would mean nothing if we didn’t go and back it up at Seaview,” said McDaid.
“It was a tough game, it had a bit of everything - goals and a red card - and it was a good game for the neutrals but more importantly it was a good result.
“Just like against Cliftonville at Solitude we were 1-0 down, but we came out in the second half and started like a house on fire. We got our rewards in the end.
“Sean Murray actually said to me afterwards ‘we should probably just start games 1-0 down!’ It speaks volumes of what we’re about. The boys don’t know when we’re beaten.”
Glentoran, who lie three points below Linfield at the top of the table, are next in league action on Tuesday night when they welcome Coleraine to the BetMcLean Oval.
The Bannsiders, who beat Carrick Rangers 3-0 on Saturday, drew 2-2 on their last visit to the Mersey Street venue in October.
“It’ll be another tough game against Coleraine, but we have to back up this result and keep going game-by-game,” said McDaid.
“The league is getting stronger and there are no easy games, whether you play Crusaders at Seaview or Warrenpoint away. They’re all tough.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. Every week now we have to treat it like the biggest game of our lives. If we keep doing that, we’ll be fine.”
