JOSH MAGENNIS knew that his Euro 2016 dream could turn into a nightmare as he faced a Premiership play-off final.

But the Northern Irish striker admits he had to put it all on the line to make sure Kilmarnock secured their top-flight status.

Magennis didn’t even make it on to the bench for Thursday’s first leg at the Falkirk Stadium due to a hamstring injury.

But with less than three weeks away from the commencement of this summer’s European Championships, the 25-year-old from Bangor returned to Lee Clark’s starting XI for Sunday’s second leg and played a pivotal role in Killie’s 4-0 victory that claimed a dramatic 4-1 aggregate win.

And he confessed afterwards that the thought of further injury ruling him out of representing his country was not enough to stop him putting his shoulder to the wheel for the Killie cause.

“If I said risking myself for the Euros wasn’t in my thoughts that would be a blatant lie,” said Magennis.

“It was on the back of my mind but first and foremost it was vital we kept Kilmarnock in the league. It wasn’t just our own jobs on the line but those of the backroom staff and people who work in other buildings.

“After Thursday’s game, there were a few home truths told. Although the Euros were in the back of my mind, I couldn’t just abandon Kilmarnock and go off into the sunset thinking everything as going to be okay.

“That’s not the type of person I am. I made sure I got myself here. The physios here, Alex McQueen and Megan Finlayson got me right and thank God it paid off.

“It was my right hamstring. I did it against Dundee with a bit of fatigue. With my ankle injury, I hadn’t really trained much and I over-stretched it.”

Magennis also revealed he could have possibly made an appearance in Thursday’s first leg, a game that Kilmarnock spurned a host of chances in before eventually going down 1-0.

However, the fans’ favourite was best saved for Sunday when his lung-bursting run helped set-up Kris Boyd for the fourth to round off a fine day’s work.

“At Kris’s goal, that was me full tilt. I’m not going to say I didn’t feel it but I was just head down and running towards the goal.

“I didn’t have the energy to shoot. I heard Boydy screaming. I thought ‘if I shoot and miss – he’s probably going to smack me in the face’ so I decided just to give it to him.

“I said at the start of the season, I’d try to get him as many goals as I could so I’ve given him another one. He should be happy.

“I felt someone have a kick at me during that run too. I knew Lee Miller was having a go. I wasn’t sure if David McCracken was going to lunge in although I knew if he did that he was going to be sent off.

“I managed to get around them both, played it to Boydy and thank God he just did what he does.”

Meanwhile, a Kilmarnock exodus took place less than 24 hours after their great escape as Clark begins his summer rebuild.

Included in those let go were Lee Ashcroft and Mark Connolly, while talented midfielder Craig Slater announced on Twitter he’d chosen to leave the club.