NORTHERN Ireland's unsung hero George O'Boyle is looking forward to further international glory after Wednesday night's match at Windsor Park Belfast.
The 28 year old St Johnstone striker scored his first goal on the senior international stage in the 1-1 draw with European Championship contenders Germany.
O Boyle scored 13 minutes after coming on as substitute for Keith Gillespie, who had turned his ankle in training earlier in the week.
It was a glorious end to the season for the Belfast boy, who scored 22 goals in the Scottish first division.
Now he is pushing for a place in manager Bryan Hamilton's starting line up when Northern Ireland start their World Cup qualifying campaign with a home match against the Ukraine in August.
O'Boyle said I have been in a lot of Bryan's squads and it would be great to start a match.
"Perhaps the goal against Germany and my scoring rate in Scotland will give me more of a chance of catching the manager's eye.
"Hopefully I can stay free of injury, as that is something that has held me back in the past.
O'Boyle's career has taken him from Linfield to Bordeaux and then to Scotland, first with Dunfermline and then with ambitious Perth side St Johnstone.
He said "I had five years with Dunfermline but I was also out around that time with cruciate ligament trouble and an Achilles injury. This season I have stayed reasonably fit and the goals have come.
"Bordeaux was an experience and I learned a lot out there think it is important to try and play at a higher level.
"I love Perth. It is a smashing town but I am ambitious and would love to have a crack on a bigger stage."
Whether he will get his wish remains to be seen, but some of Britain's top clubs are already assessing the potential of his club and country colleague Danny Griffin.
The 18 year old St Johnstone player was unflappable during a punishing 90 minutes on his international debut against the Germans.
His club manager Paul Sturrock, who was at the match, knows he faces a fight to keep him. Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs monitoring his progress.
O'Boyle has no doubts about Griffin's potential. "It was a tremendous debut," he said. "He looked very comfortable throughout the game and his family must be very proud."
