Northern Ireland: Josh Magennis on Euro 2016, ambitions and hopes for the future

Magennis said it was important to help the likes of the teenager trio who are not playing senior football for their clubs, and are making the step up on the international stage.

“It’s a different type of game for them but it’s just sort of just communicating with them and helping them bed in as quickly as possible because there’s no doubt they’re an unbelievable talent.

“If all goes well, God-willing, they can be a generational talent for Northern Ireland.”

It goes beyond the attackers, too.

Against Guinea, Northern Ireland named their youngest starting team since the end of World War Two with an average age of 22.1

“If you’re good enough, it doesn’t matter how old you are, so Michael will always give you that opportunity.

“They’re absolutely loving it, they’re full of enthusiasm and hopefully they’ve got a long time in this Northern Ireland squad to come.”

As he chases 100 caps, Magennis admits he does not know if he will reach a century but “it gives me a reason to keep going”.

“I’ve said it for ages now that I’ve been fortunate enough that as long as I’ve played football, I’ve always picked and chose my places to go club-wise so I could always represent my country and that’s put me in good stead to date.

“I’ve always had the same enthusiasm where every camp’s like my first.

“I don’t take it for granted, because we’ve seen with ‘Davo’ [Steven Davis], Stuarty Dallas and Chris Brunt, your career can be taken away from you in an instant.

“So as long as I’m here and involved in the camp, I fully enjoy it.”