CONNOR MCLAUGHLIN’S WAY TO THE NATIONAL TEAM

Posted on November 20, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin

It amazed a lot of teammates how Connor McLaughlin, the full-back from Fleetwood, England League One, suddenly emerged from ‘nowhere’ to feature in nearly every match in the qualifier matches to Euro 2016 tournament.

It has been two years since McLaughlin left Fleetwood’s celebrations after winning the League Two playoff final against Burton Albion and flew 18 hours to Montevideo just to be part of the squad on a tour of South America because Chris Baird fell ill.

The 25-year-old has hardly been left behind in the team since, missing just one game in qualifying which was due to suspension. McLaughlin prepared and was determined to play against some of the best attackers in the world as Northern Ireland met Germany, Poland and Ukraine in their first appearance at the European Championship finals on the back of 12 matches without a loss.

“It has been an amazing journey, a few years ago nobody would know who I was,” said McLaughlin at the squad’s training base at Saint-Georges-de-Reneins. “It has been brilliant to be a part of this team and making history nearly every week now. We have got an unbeaten run going and it is amazing to be present and participating here. Hopefully we can do well in the tournament.
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