Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley insists he has no immediate plans to retire from international football.
Defender vows to stay and help Northern Ireland through transition
Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley insists he has no immediate plans to retire from international football.
The 32-year-old West Brom stopper is currently experiencing somewhat of a transitional period within his national side following the departure of former manager Nigel Worthington.
Fellow veterans Aaron Hughes, Damien Johnson and George McCartney have all retired in recent months, however McAuley claims he is enjoying the international challenge more than ever and has no plans to call it a day just yet.
He told West Brom's
official website: "I don't think I will consider it. I love playing and if I'm fit to play I want to be there and try to help them out.
Tough
"I think the big thing for Northern Ireland at the moment is that there will be a transition.
"Some of the lads have left and are focusing on their club career, so we've got gaps to fill with players who won't have that experience.
"A lot of players who have been around the fringes aren't even getting league football regularly, they are playing in clubs' youth teams."
Swansea boss Brendon Rogers recently rejected an approach to take the Northern Ireland job with former player Jim Magilton currently the bookies' favourite for the post.
But McAuley admits: "It's going to be tough for whoever takes it on so the more senior players who can be there the better to help the younger players and manager with the transition.
"It's not something that I want to walk away from and give up just yet."
