Wednesday 9 November 2016 22:24, UK
Will Grigg believes his early-season goals at Wigan have answered those who questioned whether he would be adversely affected by his Euro 2016 snub.
The 25-year-old was in France for Northern Ireland's first ever European Championship finals this summer, although he did not feature in the tournament.
But having scored six goals for the Latics on their return to the Sky Bet Championship, he is keen to prove he can offer more to international football than just a catchy supporters' song as the Northern Irish prepare to face Azerbaijan in the World Cup Qualifiers on Friday night, live on Sky Sports.
"I went to France as a footballer, not as anything else, so to not play a minute was tough," he said.
"It was really disappointing and it was a tough time. I went there as part of the squad and you're not guaranteed to play and that's what happened.
"It's one of those things, you have to get back quickly and there probably were a few question marks, whether I'd come back flying again and I certainly did that.
"It wasn't a case of me going back sulking, or anything like that, it was good to have a good start.
"I've always got that belief and desire to score goals and be the best that I can. It's always nice when you prove people wrong."
His 'Will Grigg's on Fire' song, a reworking of Gala's hit 'Freed from Desire', was the first song played over the PA system after Germany's win over Michael O'Neill's side in Hanover last month and remains a musical standard for Northern Ireland.
But it was an actual fire that made the headlines on Wednesday as a car outside the front of the team's hotel in Belfast caught fire, with the problem understood to have been caused by a technical fault.
The fire brigade soon had the blaze under control but the Northern Ireland players, who have spent the week in Dublin, were forced to come in through a different entrance.
"It was a bit of a coincidence but nothing to do with me," a smiling Grigg told Sky Sports News HQ.
As for the improvement in Northern Ireland in the four years since he made his international debut, Grigg admits he is unsure exactly how they developed from also-rans to a team capable of qualifying for tournament finals.
"It's probably a similar group of players, we've got that experience over the last two or three campaigns," he added.
"We've developed as a group, a lot of that is down to Michael and the staff that have helped that. You can't put your finger on anything, I think it's just a combination of everything, experience, confidence and the way we set up and work as a group."
Meanwhile O'Neill, who saw Stuart Dallas and Jamie Ward withdraw from his squad earlier this week because of injury, has now added Ross County striker Liam Boyce to the group in Belfast.
The World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan is followed by a friendly against Croatia, with victory in the first contest enough to see Northern Ireland go into second place in their group, behind Germany, as they bid to qualify for back-to-back major tournaments after a 30-year absence.
Watch Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan on Friday night. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7:30pm.
