Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: McQuoid welcomes extra pressure
JOSH McQuoid accepts he will now carry an extra weight of expectation on his shoulders but believes he can thrive under the pressure. Cherries' hotshot striker reported for training at Dean Court yesterday after returning from Belfast, where he made his full international debut on Wednesday night. McQuoid impressed after being handed his first senior cap by Nigel Worthington winning the late penalty from which Northern Ireland earned a 1-1 draw against Morocco. The eye-catching performance continued his exceptional form following consecutive hat-tricks in Cherries' past two matches. McQuoid, who is in negotiations over a new Dean Court deal after signing a one-year contract in May, has found himself the subject of much media attention following his goalscoring exploits. The 20-year-old admits there will be increased expectation when he next steps on to the field but, speaking ahead of the trip to Leyton Orient tomorrow, the club's 11-goal leading marksman insisted that was something he welcomed. The youth team graduate told the Echo: It's good that people are noticing me but I'll just take it as it comes. All I do is just concentrate on playing football. People will expect certain things from me but I think that's a good pressure to have. I'll take it on board and try to use it in my favour. I think pressure works well for me. I can still improve as a player and scoring goals comes with that. People expect me to be scoring after the form I've been in and I welcome that. He added: When I hit that dry patch earlier this season, I was never worried because I knew the manager had faith in me. He told me to just keep playing well and I would score and that's what happened. The gaffer and the players are a massive help they never let anyone let their head drop, which I think is a credit to the team and the manager. McQuoid's boss is confident his emerging star will be unflustered by the spotlight in the wake of his recent achievements. He's very level-headed and he doesn't let anything really faze him, said Howe. He's got a steely determination about him and a desire to improve and get better, and a desire to, hopefully, make a name for himself in the game. He's going the right way about it and I don't think Josh will change. I don't see that being a problem at all.