Bournemouth striker Josh McQuoid is "buzzing" with excitement after receiving an international call during a "whirlwind" week.
The 20-year-old has scored hat-tricks in his last two games for the npower League One club and received a surprise call-up by Northern Ireland for Wednesday's friendly with Morocco in Belfast.
The Southampton-born under-21 international told BBC Radio Solent: "It's been a whirlwind week for me, also getting called up for Northern Ireland. It's a great honour and I didn't expect it."
He added: "There were a couple of injuries and Nigel Worthington rang me. It was a bit of a shock but it is a great honour and I am buzzing to go away with them."
McQuoid started the season in blistering fashion with five goals in as many games but then went nine matches without scoring. He ended his drought in spectacular fashion with trebles in an FA Cup first-round win over Tranmere and Saturday's league success against Walsall.
With Northern Ireland's all-time leading scorer David Healy surprisingly omitted from the squad - and not even summoned after all the withdrawals - McQuoid is poised to get a chance.
Worthington's revised squad have just two international goals between them and only four players - Aaron Hughes, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt and Ryan McGivern - have a double-figure number of caps.
McQuoid at least is not lacking confidence and added: "It's great to be scoring again. I've been working hard in training, being more instinctive, following things up, getting in the right positions. It's paying off."
Warren Feeney, Gareth McAuley, Maik Taylor, Chris Baird, Corry Evans, Sammy Clingan, Grant McCann, Stephen Craigan, Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty and George McCartney are the players who have forced Worthington to change his plans by pulling out.
Source: PA
