Striker sure luck will turn

BILLY McKAY . . . confidence in ability

BILLY Mckay could be forgiven for bemoaning his bad luck.

Still to get off the mark in the league for Athletic - he has done everything but, including hitting a post against Chesterfield - the man who has scored huge goals at Anfield and Celtic Park still trusts that sooner or later, fortunes will turn his way.

Athletic's on-loan striker moved south to Wigan in January of last year after a prolific spell with Inverness, only to find his opportunities severely limited.

And after watching from afar as his former Caley Thistle colleagues went on to lift the Scottish Cup four months after leaving, a loan return to the Scottish Premiership last season turned sour amid an awful relegation campaign from Dundee United.

GOALS

Mckay managed to score a respectable 13 goals for the Tannadice strugglers, but it was unlucky for him that despite featuring repeatedly in Northern Ireland's qualifiers en route to Euro 2016, he wasn't included in the finals squad.

"It was a massive blow," said Mckay. "I was on the bench for nine of the 10 qualifying games and managed to come on for two of them.

"I felt I had a chance. But it was probably a year too late for me, coming on the back of what wasn't my best season in club football.

"Had it been the year before then I feel I would have been in the squad.

"It was disappointing, but you have to take it on the chin and trying to get back in."

Corby-born Mckay made his name at Northampton, scoring in a League Cup victory on penalties at Liverpool six years ago.

His move to Inverness then saw the goals flow. In 2012-13, he netted 27 times - including a winner in a 1-0 defeat of Celtic on their own turf - and after being in the running for the PFA player of the season prize north of the border, followed up with 22 the season after.

The switch to Wigan hasn't worked out, by his won admission. Mckay has only made 10 appearances for the club to date, leading to his Dundee United move.

Still, he has no regrets.

"At the time, it was the right thing and looking back I would still have to make that move for my family," Mckay said of the Wigan switch.

"I moved back a lot closer to where I am from and though it hasn't panned out the way I would have wanted it to, I have gone out on loan to some good clubs.

"Hopefully, I can do well here at Oldham now."

With a career record of one goal every three games - he has 92 strikes to his name in 278 appearances - Mckay believes he will soon add to the one he has for Athletic so far, a neatly-taken effort against Carlisle.

He said: "I have had a few chances, but feel like I am playing well.

"I feel that if I keep doing what I am doing, then the goals will come."