Gareth McAuley - Pulling up at Ibrox last weekend I felt like 18 instead of 38

Macdara Ferris reports from Belfast

While Michael O’Neill has brought in plenty of youth to his Northern Ireland team, there is still room for the wily old player where required and Gareth McAuley fits that bill.

The Rangers man turns 39 in a fortnight's time but is back in the Northern Ireland squad for this weekend’s UEFA Nations League game against Austria.

"I'm 39 in two weeks,” said McAuley at Saturday’s pre-match press conference. “I just want to get back playing regular football. If Michael picks me I’ll come and do what I need to do around the squad, I’ll play or whatever. 

“It’s great to be back involved in the squad. It’s always a pleasure to come and represent your country and just to be back involved in football and getting the buzz off being involved in match days is something that I’ve been missing. 

“Years ago Sammy Morgan (Ipswich Academy Manager) said to me ‘never retire’. He said ‘eventually you get retired’. And that is something that has stuck with me for a long time. 

“I still have the enthusiasm to do it. I like to train. Pulling up at Ibrox last weekend I felt like 18 instead of 38. As long as I feel fit and able to compete and able to train every day to the standard that’s needed, then I’ll continue to do it.

The defender will be looking to add to his 79 international caps to date in Sunday’s final UEFA Nations League group game. McAuley’s experience has been missed as Northern Ireland seek their first competitive win in six games but the Rangers man says that the team has been unlucky in recent matches. 

He also is keen to see a continuation of the more progressive style of play that Michael O’Neill has deployed this year.

“The lads have done well. We’ve played some good stuff. If you want to be critical we have maybe missed some opportunities that have won some games. That will come. 

“Arnoutovic was the difference in the Austria game (which Das Team won 1-0). He took his chance and that was the difference. Apart from that we were well in the game. We had chances ourselves. 

“Some of the football that we have played in the last few games has been really impressive. It is a different style. We can play counter attacking football but we can control possession and are getting the confidence to do that in certain games and situations.”

McAuley has enjoyed working recently under Rangers boss and former Liverpool and England star Steven Gerrard.

“It has been good. It is intense. The man has standards. I’ve worked with people before who are past players and they can’t deal with players who weren’t at the same standard as a player but it has been really good and been really constructive in the things he has said. 

“I’ve been really impressed. He is a young manager but has a massive wealth of experience and has everyone’s respect at the football club and what he has done so far has been super.

His international manager is delighted to have McAuley available again for selection once again. 

"Having Gareth back is extremely important,” said O’Neill. “We missed him. Every time he has been available I’ve played him. I've never not played him in six years. 

“It is great for him to be at a massive club like Rangers at this stage of his career. I expect the senior players to look after the younger players. Gareth does that and is a positive influence around the players and is a voice in the dressing room.”

UEFA Nations League Preview: Northern Ireland -v- Austria https://t.co/cfv3iC1rE0pic.twitter.com/7Zru5Q0UDO

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