Q&A: McNeil On Return To Action And European Hopes

How tough have the last few months been for you? It's been tough. It's been a different season, I think, not playing, and then maybe going somewhere, it was just purely to play football, because that's what I want to do. I'm at that age now where I just want to play. On the last day it didn't happen, but I think it was just the manner that happened and not hearing what went on. I'm still here, I'm enjoying myself and I've been fortunate to play the last few games. I've enjoyed it, I've loved being at the club since I've joined. I think the lads have been a massive help as well when I came back in on that day. How do you reflect on it not happening in the manner that it did as well? I think at the time it was difficult for me to get my head around it. It was difficult for Meg as well because she had the stuff going on off the pitch. We just said everything happened for a reason. I'm here and this is where we're focused, trying to help the team, if I'm playing or I'm not playing, just to help the team as best I can to try and get us in that European spot. And playing football solves everything, doesn't it? Yeah, it's mad. It's a mad world, football! It can change so quickly. A month ago, [I was] not getting a kick. Now I've played the last few games and I've enjoyed it, it's just changed so quickly. How did your teammates help? Keano and a couple of the other lads are really close to me and I spoke to them as soon as it happened. They were really good and then when I came in they just made me feel at home again, so I appreciate what they did for me as well. People are mentioning Europe now, Dwight, aren't they? I think a big emphasis came from the gaffer in pre-season. We're trying to look up rather than down. Now, with the position that we're in, I think we're just taking it a game at a time. We want to get into Europe, but the focus is the game at the time. That moment you had coming off the other day [against Burnley], that must have been pretty special for you. It was nice. I didn't expect it. I thought I played well in the game, but to get that reception from the Everton fans and from the Burnley fans as well was really nice. I won't forget about it, it was something that I appreciate daily.