Tuesday 24 May 2016 20:41, UK
Euro 2016 hopeful Will Grigg feels the song adapted in his honour by a Wigan fan has given him a boost this season.
Striker Grigg won the Golden Boot in Sky Bet League One after scoring 28 times in 43 appearances in all competitions this season to help the Latics secure promotion back to the Championship.
The 24-year-old is hoping to be named in the Northern Ireland squad for this summer's tournament in France and his international team-mates have been quick to embrace Grigg's theme tune.
Wigan supporter Sean Kennedy's adaptation of Gala's 1996 hit 'Freed from Desire' has been the musical accompaniment to the club's season and Grigg admits hearing it sung at games is "unbelievable."
"Sean Kennedy did a few songs before that and they caught on around the stadium and training ground, but not quite like this," he said.
"When this one came out it was unbelievable. To hear the fans singing it for eight or nine minutes every single game is good and it came at a good time with myself scoring goals.
"It definitely gave myself an extra little bit and I think the boys in the team clocked on to it and we've got some great videos."
Grigg scored 10 times in Wigan's final nine fixtures to earn a recall to Michael O'Neill's international set-up for this Friday's home friendly with Belarus and there was a familiar tune greeting him when the squad met up in Manchester last week.
"It's when I'm walking anywhere, even meeting up with the boys here, it's the first thing they sing," he added.
"It's not going to get old for myself so hopefully I can keep going and if it gets going at the Euros that would be something special."
Grigg must first earn his place in a squad that will be cut from 28 players to 23 and he will look to boost his chances by earning his eighth cap against Belarus at Windsor Park.
He made his debut in a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of the Netherlands in 2012 but the tables have now been turned, with O'Neill's side having qualified for their first major tournament in 30 years while the Dutch missed out on qualification.
"That was an interesting game, it was almost surreal," said Grigg.
"Weirdly, I enjoyed it as my first international match even though it was so disappointing. It taught us a lesson in terms of what level we had to be at and we've learned from that over the years.
"We've come a very long way - to think that was my first game and here we are now is incredible."
