Will Grigg says he enjoyed being back in the Northern Ireland starting line-up against Scotland although admits he wasn’t expecting it.
The 23-year-old, who hadn’t featured for his country since 2013 before Wednesday’s game at Hampden Park, played close to an hour for Michael O’Neill’s side alongside Dons team-mate Ben Reeves, who, too, started the game.
Lee Hodson also featured as a substitute in the friendly, which finished 1-0 to the home side.
“It was disappointing to lose but overall it was enjoyable,” Grigg told MK Dons Player. “It was tough for us in the first half as they had a really strong team out, but we had a few half chances and played some good stuff at times - I felt we gave a good account of ourselves.
“It was really nice to start as my last few appearances have been from the bench. I wasn’t really expecting it but I sort of had an inkling during training. Scoring two goals (for the Dons) on the weekend obviously helped and I felt I did well in training too.”
Grigg and Northern Ireland now turn their attentions to an important Euro 2016 qualifier against Finland, which takes place at Windsor Park on Sunday evening.
The Northern Irish currently sit second in Group F and with third-placed Hungary facing a tough fixture against Greece, they have the chance to increase the gap in that play-off position to five points with a win in Belfast.
The Dons striker added: “We’re thoroughly looking forward to the game on Sunday. We’ve got a good bunch of lads here and with the way the qualifying campaign has been going, the spirits are high.”
Due to the three internationals, there will be no Dons fixture this weekend at stadiummk.
Karl Robinson's men were originally schedueled to play Donaster Rovers but after Grigg, Hodson and Reeves were selected by Northern Ireland, the Donny clash was postponed.
Lee Hodson also featured as a substitute in the friendly, which finished 1-0 to the home side.
“It was disappointing to lose but overall it was enjoyable,” Grigg told MK Dons Player. “It was tough for us in the first half as they had a really strong team out, but we had a few half chances and played some good stuff at times - I felt we gave a good account of ourselves.
“It was really nice to start as my last few appearances have been from the bench. I wasn’t really expecting it but I sort of had an inkling during training. Scoring two goals (for the Dons) on the weekend obviously helped and I felt I did well in training too.”
Grigg and Northern Ireland now turn their attentions to an important Euro 2016 qualifier against Finland, which takes place at Windsor Park on Sunday evening.
The Northern Irish currently sit second in Group F and with third-placed Hungary facing a tough fixture against Greece, they have the chance to increase the gap in that play-off position to five points with a win in Belfast.
The Dons striker added: “We’re thoroughly looking forward to the game on Sunday. We’ve got a good bunch of lads here and with the way the qualifying campaign has been going, the spirits are high.”
Due to the three internationals, there will be no Dons fixture this weekend at stadiummk.
Karl Robinson's men were originally schedueled to play Donaster Rovers but after Grigg, Hodson and Reeves were selected by Northern Ireland, the Donny clash was postponed.
