West Brom defender Gareth McAuley eyeing World Cup dream

The 37-year-old centre-back was part of the squad which exceeded all expectations by reaching the second round of Euro 2016, in what was Northern Ireland’s first appearance at a major tournament for three decades.

Following it up with qualification for next year’s World Cup remains a real possibility for Michael O’Neill’s men, who sit second in their qualifying group ahead of a trip to face Azerbaijan on Saturday week.

And McAuley admits he is in part motivated by a desire to show the success of 12 months ago was no one-off.

“I think the better we do in this campaign the better the Euro campaign actually looks,” McAuley told the Belfast Telegraph.

The defender, who was yesterday named in the Northern Ireland squad along with Baggies team-mates Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt, continued: “Sometimes in football people can be very cynical and they can throw things at you like it was a fluke so the better we can do as a group of players, the more critics can be answered.

“You are always under pressure to perform but it is nice to carry on what we did in the Euros. It’s great that there is still a feel-good factor surrounding the team when we go back home and about international football in Northern Ireland.

“Hopefully it is being used to get more kids into football and to bring more kids through who could go on in the future and play for Northern Ireland.

“Obviously our aim is to qualify for the next World Cup, but if we don’t hopefully it won’t be another 30 years until the country reaches another tournament.”

Northern Ireland host New Zealand in a friendly on Friday night before turning attentions to the Azerbaijan clash.

“Where we are in the group it is an important match,” added McAuley. “It’s a big, big game for us.”