Barrie McKay aims to end Fleetwood season in style after seizing rare chance

Barrie McKay is hoping to kick on in the Fleetwood Town side, having scored Monday’s winner at AFC Wimbledon.

McKay closed down Dons keeper Nik Tzanev as he attempted to turn and the ball ended up in the net.

The Scot , who is on loan from Swansea City, has had to settle for a bit-part role this season.

A key player towards the back end of last season, McKay has found game-time harder to come by this time around and has been sidelined with injury and Covid.

The 26-year-old admits it’s been a frustrating time waiting for his chance but he was delighted to score after being given half an hour off the bench.

McKay said: “I haven’t scored one like that before – I’m not really known for my pressing! That’s my first league goal this season. It’s been a bit stop-start but it’s always good to be able to help the team.

“It’s been frustrating. You want to be playing football, that’s the one reason I came here.

“There’s been a change of manager, with different opinions, and you just need to bide your time.

“The fitness staff and physios have helped keep my spirits high and helped me to keep on top of my fitness to make sure I was ready if I did get the chance.

“The manager told me to keep going, I hadn’t done anything wrong and the team was on a roll.

“I was involved, then I was off with Covid and then I had to get back up to speed.

“He just told me to keep going and I’d get my opportunity. It’s just one of those things, it’s football.”

Having taken an opportunity coming off the bench, McKay wants to cement a place in the starting XI for the remaining seven games of the season.

Town host Rochdale on Saturday and McKay added: “There aren’t many games left, but we want to be winning them and I feel I can bring something different to the team than what is already in there. Hopefully it puts me in the plans and I can kick on from there.

“Whether you’re going for the play-offs or fighting off relegation, at the end of the day you’re playing for pride.

“Every footballer does not go out there thinking, ‘It doesn’t matter if we get beat today’. Everybody is wanting to win.

“You can see that in the way the boys are defending as well. They’re picking up clean sheets and that’s what you need to build off.

“If you get the clean sheets it gives us attacking players the platform to build from and get the goals.”

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