WATCH: "A good place to be" Boyce on enjoying his football with NI
Burton striker is guest on our latest BetMcLean Football Show
Last updated 21st Mar 2018
Liam Boyce says the atmosphere in the Northern Ireland camp at the moment could not be any better.
The Burton striker, who is expected to start up front in Saturday’s international friendly with South Korea at the National Stadium at Windsor Park, says having Michael O’Neill commit his future as manager was a huge help.
Speaking on our BetMcLean Football show – an international special – which is now available to view in full on Cool FM’s Facebook page (see link below), Boyce said he had never any doubt O’Neill would stay in charge.
"He was still texting me and asking me how I was doing when I was out injured so I always believed he was going to stay,” he said.
“Why would he ask me, if I’m not going to be in his plans, or the squad isn't going to be on his mind. I just always thought he was going to stay. How well he's done and how well-loved he is here, I just couldn't see him turning his back on that."
Boyce said the Northern Ireland team were currently in a healthy state.
"New faces bring new competition and it steps up the level in training,” he told us.
“When I was younger, Northern Ireland struggled to win games, never mind put a run together. Now we know we're a good team and we play well together. It's a good place to be."
He said he was now fully focused on the game against Korea and that the players were out to prove they can compete with the best.
"With missing out on the World Cup in such a harsh way, in such a close game… you're now playing a World Cup team, and you want to show that you would have deserved to be there,” he said.
“That we can actually beat teams that are in the World Cup.”
Boyce also opened up about his struggles following a shocking ACL injury.
"Obviously I had to go in and do leg weights in the gym and build the muscles back up quickly,” he said.
“So I was in the gym on my own every day. Obviously you don't want to see any of the other boys getting hurt, but some of them picked up wee niggles and I was actually happy because it meant somebody was going to be in the gym with me."
On his scoring comeback last month against Villa, he said: “"It was unbelievable after being out for so long.
“Ever since then I've been doing alright. I haven't really got that match sharpness back to where I would like it to be. I'm slowly on the road back and I'm starting to play longer minutes, and it'll eventually come."
Also guesting this week are new-boy Jamal Lewis, Jordan Jones and Trevor Carson.