Town central defender Gareth McAuley has hailed Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia at Windsor Park as the most important match he has played to date. McAuley’s Northern Ireland are in with a chance of making it to South Africa next summer but need to beat the table-topping Slovakians (Sky Sports 3, 7.30pm).

The former Town skipper said: "This is the biggest game of my career. It’s huge and there is no getting away from it. We’ve got to go and win. It’s not one that we’re nervous about, we can’t wait for it.

“We don’t want to have any regrets and we’ve got to play like it’s our last game ever. We’ve got to go at them, close them down, press all over the pitch and try to get goals.

“The World Cup is within touching distance. We’ve two games left, two big games, the Slovakia game and the match in the Czech Republic next month.

“We’ve got to go that extra yard because the prize at the end of it is massive.”

McAuley, who plays at right-back for his country, has won 18 full caps and has scored one goal.

Photo: Action Images

IvorTheEngine added 15:11 - Sep 8 every came for town should the biggest game of your career......donkey!!!!!
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IvorTheEngine added 15:16 - Sep 8 i mean game
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mediamatt added 15:25 - Sep 8 tony, a tad harsh I feel.
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Mookamoo added 15:38 - Sep 8 Looked very good vs Poland.
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bedsitfc added 16:28 - Sep 8 good luck to the lad hope it goes well and he brings some confidents back with him, then we will gain aswell
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JayITFC added 17:15 - Sep 8 Tony don't be an idiot. How is calling him donkey in anyway helpful or constructive to what we all want to see - Ipswich Town getting promoted.
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Eiffel65 added 18:04 - Sep 8 Confidence and support are vital for a player, and for a team. As he's not getting either at Portman Road at the moment, I'm happy for him to do well for Nortern Ireland. Keep The Faith, Eif. @Tony - tsk, tsk ... while he's wearing blue ...
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GeorgiDoundarov added 18:06 - Sep 8 This is really a big game for N. Ireland. It is good for him to be involved in a game like this and hopefully if he plays good he can gain that confidence we need him to have for our matches. Good luck!
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multipulemicky added 18:16 - Sep 8 Funny how you always look shite when you play for town?
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jas0999 added 18:55 - Sep 8 Good luck to him. Agree in a roundabout way with others - needs to show the same desire in aTown shirt - I am sure RK would demand 100% and 'biggest game' every single match - so should the fans! Come on Gareth prove me and others wrong.
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MarkITFC added 19:50 - Sep 8 In his last gome 4 town he was awesome i thought ! if he could carry that on he would be a Massive player
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Notts_tractor added 23:17 - Sep 8 What Northern Ireland have achieved in view of the lack of quality players is fantastic. People like Gareth McAuley have shown what battlers this team has. We just want to see it at PR, and something like the terrific backing NI get at Windsor Park!
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melfordblue added 23:55 - Sep 8 Do you not think after playing his 'best ever game' he's gonna come back with so much confidence, especially if NI do the business tomorrow? We could see a whole new dominant. super-condident Gareth McAuley. This could be very good for us, why should calling an amazing rearguard action when he never put a foot wrong all night for his country not be his best ever game in his mind, after getting a load of stick from our morons the pressure is off, he has a load of NI fans cheering his every move and he has a great game, doesn't that tell you something?

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WickedBlue added 05:34 - Sep 9 @multipulemicky is it any wonder with dickheads like you on his back all the time? About time you actually supported the team or get out, your choice.
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multipulemicky added 06:17 - Sep 9 For your information Wickedblue im not always on his back and i do support the team!! Im only saying what i see when he plays at Portman rd,sometimes he does look poor.Thats all,perhaps i should change the shite to poor?would that please you?
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WeWereZombies added 08:32 - Sep 9 I wonder if West Ham supporters ever curse those donkeys Moore, Hurst and Peters for giving their very best one day at Wembley in 1966 instead of making the Hammers the dominant force in 1960s club football?
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