Baraclough tips Lavery for cross-channel return
NORTHERN Ireland manager Ian Baraclough is convinced that Linfield sharpshooter Shayne La very has what it takes to again play his club football in England or Scotland after being called into the international squad.
Lavery has been in sensational form for the Blues and many Irish League fans were surprised he didn’t make the original panel for the World Cup qualifiers with Italy and Bulgaria and the friendly versus USA, but an injury to Conor Washington has given the 22-year-old his chance.
Charlton forward Washington was substituted early on during his side’s League One encounter with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and yesterday had a scan on a hamstring and lower back issue which is set to keep him out of the triple header.
Lavery scored the winner for the champions in their impressive Danske Bank Premiership success at Crusaders on Friday, taking his tally for the season to 19 goals, with 10 of them in his last seven appearances.
He is on his best run in front of goal since joining Linfield from Falkirk in the summer of 2019, when he made an immediate impact in his side’s surge to the Europa League play-off stages that year.
Previously at Everton, Lavery has hopes of moving back across the water.
His club manager David Healy feels he has the talent and game to do it and it’s clear that Baraclough, who managed the player at Under-21 level, feels the same way.
“I’ve kept in touch with him all the way,” said the Northern Ireland boss.
“He’s determined to get the best out of what he’s got. I think he’s got the tools to go back over to England or Scotland and play full-time over there.
“We’re fearing the worst about Conor so we brought Shayne in. He adds to the firepower we’ve already got in the squad.
“He’s hitting the back of the net regularly and will come straight in.”
Young Liverpool goalkeeper Liam Hughes, who moved to Anfield from Celtic in January, has also been called up.
Unlike Lavery, who has been capped at the highest level, this is the former Portadown and Dungannon Swifts youngster’s introduction to the senior squad, joining fellow goalkeepers Bailey Peacock-farrell, Conor Hazard and Derry City’s Nathan Gartside after stepping up from the Under-21s, who are having a training camp in Belfast this week.
On Hughes, who was on the bench for Liverpool’s win at Sheffield United last month, Baraclough stated: “He’s had an unbelievable year, going from Celtic to Liverpool.
“He sat on the bench for one of the games. He has to take his chances when they come and this is a great experience for him; 10 days with the full squad. He is a sponge — he wants to learn and it’s the only way, being in with the big boys.”
The players had their first training session yesterday prior to Thursday’s Group C encounter with Italy.
Baraclough added: “There’s an energy about them and a concentration already that you can see. They love being together. Coming in on Sunday night allowed them to get some stories across the dinner table.”