Magennis was part of the Northern Ireland squad that qualified for the 2016 European Championship – their first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.
The former Wigan, Hull City, Charlton and Bolton striker played in two group matches and the last 16 defeat by Wales in France and knows how important it would be for his country to reach the World Cup.
“For Northern Ireland we haven’t managed to attain that since the 1980s,” he said.
“We have the likes of Jimmy Nicholl, who’s on our staff, Gerry Armstrong, Pat Jennings, when you see these lads, they always tell you about what it was to play for your country.
“Most importantly it brings the country together. When we were at Euro 2016 all the fan zones, everything was green and white
“When we came back and the way we were welcomed it was something I’ve never witnessed before, so it’s not just personally but together as a country it would be unbelievable.”
Magennis is aware that time is not on his side after a 17-year professional career that has seen him play in all three tiers of the English Football League and the top flight in Scotland.
He has seen his chances at Exeter narrow in recent months due to the form of fellow forward Jayden Wareham, but Magennis says he is fit and ready for selection.
“I’m not at the stage now where I’m having to have down days or days inside or anything like that,” he added.
“I’m still training as much as the other lads, I’m still contributing as much as the other lads and I’m just making sure that that I’m fit and available and when I’m needed I can contribute in some way.
“I think it would be different if if I was just hanging on for the sake of hanging on and I was cheating myself or cheating my country – I would never do that.
“But as long as I’m fit and able, and I feel that, I’ll always make myself available to to be selected.”
