Veteran NI striker insists he will not play ‘victim' as he aims to win back his international place
The experienced Euro 2016 hero remains out in the cold for the friendlies against Denmark and Iceland in June.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill wants to look at other forward options such as Dion Charles, Lee Bonis, Dale Taylor and Ronan Hale.
Magennis, who has impressed with Exeter City, turns 35 in August and now faces a fight to add to his 82 caps.
'It was a hard one to take, obviously, I'm not going to lie,' said the former Aberdeen man.
'Michael's the manager and it's his rationale and his thought process. As much as I didn't agree with it and it took me a couple of days to come round, I could understand it because eventually I'm going to hopefully, God willing, be a manager or a coach.
'It's a coach's job to always make the team better. If Michael thought that by seeing other players playing friendlies before we went into the World Cup, because the World Cup is what really matters, then he's every right to do so.
'So, I had to reframe my thought process in terms of getting away from the victim mentality. I never wanted that to happen. Football is an ever-evolving game.
'It doesn't wait around for anyone. So, my thought process quickly went from feeling that I should be in the squad to why am I not in the squad to, well, you've just got to get back to work.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
8 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Cesc Fabregas says he believes in ‘long-term' Como project amid links to Inter
The former Arsenal and Spain midfielder guided the team to an impressive 10th-place finish in their first top-flight campaign for 21 years helped by a club-record six-match winning run between April and May. A first season in senior management for the 38-year-old ended with his reputation as a head coach significantly raised, reportedly catching the eye of Inter who are without a manager after Simone Inzaghi departed this week in the aftermath of Saturday's 5-0 Champions League final loss to Paris St Germain. 'I really believe in the Como project,' Fabregas said at the SXSW event taking place in London, as reported by La Gazzetta della Sport. 'I started with this club because I was thinking about a long-term project. I don't want to finish my career at a club where there's a project for one or two years and then everything ends.' Fabregas, who is a minority shareholder of the club, joined Como as a player in 2022 and played out the final year of his career with the club in Serie B. After retiring the following summer, he joined the coaching staff, briefly taking charge of the first team as caretaker after boss Moreno Longo was sacked. Welsh coach Osian Roberts took charge for the remainder of the promotion-winning season while Fabregas completed his UEFA coaching qualifications, with the World Cup and Champions League-winner taking over last summer. ⚫🔵✍️#ForzaInter #WelcomePetar — Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) June 4, 2025 'I really believe in Como's long-term project,' he said. 'I arrived here as a player and I'm very, very happy because I get to work in the way that I want. We have the same goals and the same ambition. 'The President allows me to work the way I want, the way I see things. Fortunately, we share the same vision and have the same goal, which is to go as far as possible. 'We've become a really good team together, in a small town, in a small club but with big, very big ambitions for the future.' Inter meanwhile have signed Croatia international Petar Sucic from Dinamo Zagreb. The midfielder, who has seven international caps, played last season on loan at Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar.
Rhyl Journal
8 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Adam Idah confident he can handle the pressure at Celtic
The 24-year-old, who completed a £9.5million switch from Norwich to Celtic Park last summer after a successful loan spell, finished the campaign with 20 goals despite making almost half his 53 appearances in all competitions from the bench. However, he also suffered testing periods, not least after a video of him apparently vomiting from a taxi circulated on social media, prompting a stern defence from manager Brendan Rodgers. Asked about the pressure, Idah said: 'The pressure is a lot and you are expected to deliver. I think with my experience now, you have to put that behind you. You know what you are good at. 'If you don't score for a couple of games, it is not helpful to listen to an ex-player. I am not really concerned with what he thinks – I am there to do my bit. 'I had a good run in the last few games, but I know it can turn quick. That is football. There have been plenty of games when I have gone without scoring, you have to stay focused and help the team. 'There is a lot of pressure at the club to be successful. It is good, I think. Every player wants to play at a big club, but what comes with a big club is the pressure.' Rodgers' backing – the Bhoys boss described him as 'a great young professional' – was welcome, but Idah has vowed to continue to live his life despite having to do so in the spotlight at times. He said: 'At the end of the day I am a human being. I go out. I don't have to stay inside all the time. It's hard when people are videoing you, it can be quite upsetting, especially when the story is made out to be what it is not. 'It can be tough, but like I said, I am human and I'm going to carry on with my life.' In the meantime, Idah faces the task of re-establishing himself in the Ireland team under new boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, with Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott having edged ahead of him in the pecking order. Caption this 😄… — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 23, 2025 It was he who scored the winner after coming off the bench in the 2-1 Nations League victory over Bulgaria in March, and he will hope for a further taste of action in Friday night's friendly against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium as Hallgrimsson attempts to build up a run of three wins in four games ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign. He said: 'We want to qualify for the World Cup and you want to be part of that, whether it is starting or off the bench. Even if you don't come on you can always help the team. 'It is up to the manager. Of course I want the minutes, but qualifying is the most important.'
Leader Live
8 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Cesc Fabregas says he believes in ‘long-term' Como project amid links to Inter
The former Arsenal and Spain midfielder guided the team to an impressive 10th-place finish in their first top-flight campaign for 21 years helped by a club-record six-match winning run between April and May. A first season in senior management for the 38-year-old ended with his reputation as a head coach significantly raised, reportedly catching the eye of Inter who are without a manager after Simone Inzaghi departed this week in the aftermath of Saturday's 5-0 Champions League final loss to Paris St Germain. 'I really believe in the Como project,' Fabregas said at the SXSW event taking place in London, as reported by La Gazzetta della Sport. 'I started with this club because I was thinking about a long-term project. I don't want to finish my career at a club where there's a project for one or two years and then everything ends.' Fabregas, who is a minority shareholder of the club, joined Como as a player in 2022 and played out the final year of his career with the club in Serie B. After retiring the following summer, he joined the coaching staff, briefly taking charge of the first team as caretaker after boss Moreno Longo was sacked. Welsh coach Osian Roberts took charge for the remainder of the promotion-winning season while Fabregas completed his UEFA coaching qualifications, with the World Cup and Champions League-winner taking over last summer. ⚫🔵✍️#ForzaInter #WelcomePetar — Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) June 4, 2025 'I really believe in Como's long-term project,' he said. 'I arrived here as a player and I'm very, very happy because I get to work in the way that I want. We have the same goals and the same ambition. 'The President allows me to work the way I want, the way I see things. Fortunately, we share the same vision and have the same goal, which is to go as far as possible. 'We've become a really good team together, in a small town, in a small club but with big, very big ambitions for the future.' Inter meanwhile have signed Croatia international Petar Sucic from Dinamo Zagreb. The midfielder, who has seven international caps, played last season on loan at Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar.
