James McGarry aiming for Aberdeen FC form surge as he hopes Pittodrie performances boost ultimate goal aim

James McGarry is looking to soar with Aberdeen in the second half of the season – so he can hit the skies again for international duty.

The defender has just one cap for New Zealand – against Lithuania in 2019. While he was due for a recall for games against DR Congo and Australia last October, the left wing-back was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Now McGarry is determined to help lift Dons back up the table and into the fight for third place. And he knows that would boost his hopes of a recall by the All Whites, who have confirmed they will play a tournament with Croatia, Tunisia and Egypt in the United Arab Emirates in March.

He said: “Hopefully I will get into the national team again at some point. I just have to keep playing and playing well to get into that squad. I was supposed to be in it before my injury. That injury came up at an unfortunate time, only a couple of weeks before the camp I was supposed to be in. The next one comes up in March, so the focus for me is to make sure I have the best possible chance to be in that squad. That is definitely my goal – I’ll be back in for March, which is the next international window.”

The last time McGarry got the call was in his first spell in Europe with Dutch side Willem II. He has since had stints with Wellington Phoenix, Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners in the Aussie top flight.

The 25- year-old helped the Mariners to A-League Grand Final glory and his former boss Nick Montgomery – now in charge of Hibs – was stunned he wasn’t called up by the Kiwis then. His impressive form was enough to convince Barry Robson to pay a six-figure fee to bring him to Pittodrie five months ago but internationally it has been a waiting game for McGarry.

He added: “I got one