The year of 2016 was a memorable one for Northern Ireland and Niall McGinn is hoping the next 12 months can be equally unforgettable.
Michael O'Neill's players returned to club duty on Wednesday and will next be back together under the Northern Irish banner in March for a World Cup qualifier with Norway in Belfast.
Although they concluded the calendar year with a 3-0 defeat to Croatia, the preceding months brought success not seen for years by The Green and White Army, who followed their small nation at a major tournament for the first time since 1986 at the Euros in the summer.
Any fear that a post-France hangover would grip O'Neill's team has been banished by an impressive start to the World Cup qualification campaign and thoughts of reaching Russia in 2018 are very much at the forefront of Northern Irish minds.
They will almost certainly have to do so via the play-offs given Germany are set to top Group C, but Aberdeen winger McGinn believes his nation can follow their 2016's exploits with more success in 2017.
"There is no reason why we can't make it a great year too," McGinn said.
"I think the spirit in the squad is obviously high, the players are playing well and the momentum is still there.
"We've always played well at Windsor Park over the years so we want to keep that going with an important game in March, hopefully we can get three points from that."
Last Friday's 4-0 home triumph over Azerbaijan lifted O'Neill's team into second but Norway, the Czech Republic and the Azeris themselves will have designs of finishing directly behind world champions Germany.
"The group is obviously tough and if we get to March and win that game it will definitely set ourselves up nicely," added McGinn, who was bestowed the honour of captain-for-the-night against the Croatians on his 50th international appearance.
"We just want to keep the momentum going - the most important thing was to win that game on Friday and we've done that.
"We've played Germany and Czech Republic away so the most important thing is getting as many points as we can from these home games coming up. On the road will be good for us too, but the home games we have coming up we are capable of winning.
"You're looking at that group and you have to fancy our chances to get to 19 points, but we know how difficult international football is. If we can just keep the progression and momentum going, who knows?"
Source: PA
