Northern Ireland forward Conor McMenamin has revealed that reclaiming a spot in the national squad for the upcoming World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy is a “primary goal” for him in the coming months. The 30-year-old attacker has been sidelined from international duty over the past year due to a serious knee injury and a subsequent Achilles problem.

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Regaining Match Fitness and Club Form

McMenamin is steadily returning to full fitness, regaining regular match time with St Mirren, and played a pivotal role in his club’s 3-1 Scottish League Cup final victory over Celtic. The forward, who previously played for Cliftonville and Glentoran, has accumulated nine international caps to date. He made his Northern Ireland debut in a Nations League fixture against Cyprus in 2022 and scored his only international goal during a 3-0 Euro qualifier win against San Marino in October 2023.

“I’ve had a lot of injuries in the past couple of years, but the pinnacle for any player is to play for their country, and I’m no different,” McMenamin said.

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World Cup Play-Off Against Italy

With the World Cup play-offs approaching, McMenamin emphasized the significance of securing a spot for the semi-final clash in Bergamo against Italy on 26 March. The winner of that tie will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in the FIFA World Cup finals.

“That would be the main goal for me heading into the next few weeks, to try and cement a seat on that plane for Italy,” he added.
“Obviously it will be a really tough match, but I think it’s one that we can go and win. We’ve got a good squad there, and I love playing for Northern Ireland, so that would be a big goal.”

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A Tight-Knit Northern Ireland Squad

McMenamin highlighted the close relationships within the Northern Ireland squad, noting that teammates stayed in touch even while he was recovering from injury.

“All the staff at Northern Ireland, as soon as the final whistle went last week, they were on the phone congratulating me and the team,” he said.
“It’s such a close-knit group when we’re away with Northern Ireland, and all the players keep in contact even when we’re not together. That shows with the results we’ve had, and that’s credit to Michael O’Neill and what he has built over the past couple of years. A really tight-knit unit, and hopefully come March we’ll be ready to go.”

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Adapting to a New Role at Club Level

Although usually deployed as a forward, McMenamin has recently been playing as a left wing-back for St Mirren. He has embraced the challenge, contributing to the team’s successful run in recent weeks.

“The last few weeks have been good for everyone involved with the club, and when that final whistle went in the cup final, you forget about the injuries and all the hard work you have done to get back in the team,” he said.
“The gaffer [Stephen Robinson] obviously likes the shape, and the boys have been playing well. It’s up to us as players to fit into that shape, that’s something we spoke about, me building trust by my performances in that position.”

McMenamin also acknowledged the competitiveness within the squad:

“It’s all about taking chances. We’ve got a great squad, so if you’re not doing well, someone is there to replace you. It keeps everyone on their toes. I think if I’m playing regularly here and doing well, that’s all I can do.”