Caley Thistle manager John Hughes will back Billy Mckay’s international ambitions to the hilt this summer, despite the attacker’s exhaustion after a demanding season.
Caley Thistle’s leading-scorer will join Northern Ireland’s end-of-season tour of South America late this month despite an expected rash of withdrawals.
The province’s manager, Michael O’Neill, is preparing to name the travelling party for friendlies against Uruguay on May 31 and Chile on June 4.
Mckay, who played in every one of Caley Thistle’s 50 matches this season, scoring 22 goals, has been selected in the last four Northern Ireland squads.
The England-born 25-year-old has already won five caps but earlier this season, he was described as being “out on his feet” by Hughes.
The Inverness manager insisted though he would never stand in the way of a player’s international aspirations. Hughes said: “Billy came off the field after taking a knock on the side of the knee against St Johnstone on Sunday. But he was in for treatment this morning and we’re hoping he should be all right.
“I would never stand in anybody’s way when it comes to international football. It is a great accolade for any player and also a great accolade for the club to be represented. It was terrific when I was at Falkirk and we had a group playing in the Scotland under-21s. Hopefully, with Billy involved with Northern Ireland and young Ryan Christie in the Scotland under-19s, that’s just the start for this club.”
Hughes has the luxury of knowing the coveted Mckay has another year to run on his Caley Thistle contract.
But the 49-year-old is preparing to offer the forward the chance to extend his stay beyond the end of next season. He added: “There are six or seven of our squad who have a year left to run and I would rather focus on keeping those players here.
“I can definitely see Billy being one that we can re-sign on a new deal.
“We’ve certainly got a wage structure here that is very prudent. But if that little bit of extra money from finishing in fifth place helps us re-sign one or two of the current squad on longer deals, I’d rather do that than bring in new faces.
“I know what I’ve got here. I know the character. We’re not always the best team in the world but we have players who want to be the best.
“There are no egos in that dressing room and, when you’ve got that, you don’t want to bring in the wrong type.
“One bad apple spoils the barrel and we have to be very careful.
“A lot of these players deserve new deals.
“A lot of them are not playing for great money, but they want the opportunity to come here and play.
“So if there is the chance to sign them up beyond next season, that’s the way I’d rather go.”