Josh Magennis is aiming to earn 100 caps for Northern Ireland with the Italy match looming

Magennis was part of the Northern Ireland squad that qualified for the 2016 European Championship – their first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.

The former Wigan, Hull City, Charlton and Bolton striker played in two group matches, losing in the round of 16 to Wales in France, and knows how important it is for his country to reach the World Cup.

“For Northern Ireland, we haven’t been able to achieve that since the 1980s,” he said.

“We have the likes of Jimmy Nicol, who is in our team, Gerry Armstrong, Pat Jennings, when you see those players they always tell you what it means to play for your country.

“Most importantly it brings the country together. When we were at the 2016 European Championships, all the fan zones, everything was green and white.

“When we came back and the way we were welcomed was something I had never experienced before, so it will be incredible not only personally, but together as a country.”

Magennis knows time is not on his side after a 17-year professional career that has seen him play at all three levels of the English Football League and Scotland’s top flight.

He has seen his opportunities at Exeter narrow in recent months due to the form of fellow striker Jayden Wareham, but Magennis says he is fit and ready for selection.

“I’m not at the point now where I have to spend days or days inside or anything like that,” he added.

“I’m still training like the other players, I’m still contributing as much as the other players, just making sure I’m fit and available and when I’m needed I can contribute in some way.

“I think it would be different if I was just holding on for the sake of holding on and I was fooling myself or my country – I would never do that.

“But as long as I’m fit and able, and I feel like it, I will always make myself available to be selected,” he added.