Hale has had a lengthy wait for Fifa clearance to be granted for his international switch, but after missing the autumn’s Nations League games he is raring to go in the upcoming friendlies which serve as preparation for the World Cup qualifying campaign which starts in September.
“It’s been tough not being able to be selected. I’ve been watching the games itching to get in there,” he said.
“Things got rolling very quickly but obviously the process was a bit long and thankfully we’re here now.
“It’s taken a long time but it’s come along now and I’m looking forward to getting in the mix. It’s a young group that is on the up.”
Hale explains that some conversations with NI boss O’Neill paved the way for his move.
“I remember Jim Magilton [Cliftonville manager and 52-times capped Northern Ireland international] saying to me that Michael liked me and he’d like to have a sit-down with you and I said ‘no problem’.
“I got talking to him and once I got my move [to Ross County] it was straightforward from there. I spoke to my family and they backed the decision.”
The former Larne striker is determined to finish his season off on a high at both club and international level.
“I’m not usually one for targets but now I’m back in the full-time environment I set out to score 10 goals by Christmas and I reached that in January so I wasn’t far off.
“Now I’m just trying to finish the season with as many goals as I can and I want to add international goals in there now as well.
“We have a massive game coming up against Hearts at the weekend and a win would set me up nicely for the international break.”
Listen to the full interview with Ronan Hale on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Foyle on Saturday 15 March from 14:00 GMT.
