Conor McMenamin says he will be forever grateful to Ian Baraclough for giving him his international debut.
Baraclough was sacked as Northern Ireland manager last month, the axe falling on the 51-year-old following another disappointing Nations League campaign.
The former Under 21 boss was the man who gave McMenamin his international bow, which came back in June in a Nations League game against Cyprus.
Read more: Conor McMenamin injury confirmed as winger ruled out for two months
The Glentoran winger earned a total of four caps under Baraclough, and he also hopes he can impress Northern Ireland's next manager - whoever that may be..
"Obviously I owe Ian an awful lot. Even when he left he texted me straight away, and when he heard about my injury last week he texted me," McMenamin told Belfast Live.
"I owe an awful lot to Ian and I wouldn't be able to repay what he did for me. He made my dream come true, playing for my country.
"Personally, it has been a great year for me. But it is also sad to see Ian go.
"All I can do now is try and play well for Glentoran, and hopefully I can catch the eye of the new manager, whoever than turns out to be.
"I was gutted when Ian went. He liked me as a player and he was really good to me when I came into the squad. He looked after me and made sure I was okay.
"Whatever he does in the future, I just wish him all the best.
McMenamin is expected to be out for two months after suffering a broken metatarsal in last week's 1-0 defeat to Cliftonville.
It could see the Glens winger sidelined until February, just one month before Northern Ireland are due to kick-off their Euro qualifying campaign.
McMenamin says his primary focus is on recovering from his latest knock, and then performing to a level that will earn him another international call-up.
And whoever the next Northern Ireland manager is, the 27-year-old will be out to impress.
"I just have to recover and then play well. I have no control over who the next manager is. I can only control what I do on the pitch and I have to try and perform to the best I can," he added.
"I just have to make sure I am in that squad next March."
Conor McMenamin was speaking as part of a surprise visit to Abbey Primary School in Newtownards to announce that the Co Down school’s football team have won a training masterclass with the Northern Ireland international teams as part of M&S Food’s Eat Well, Play Well partnership with the Irish FA.
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