Kyle be back, says O’neill

O’neill gives Laff hope of international return

MICHAEL O’neill says Kyle Lafferty still has a future with Northern Ireland – but warned the player his late call-off “hasn’t helped.”

O’neill is irritated that the Rangers star phoned him at midnight on Sunday to pull out of his Nations League squad.

An ongoing achilles problem was cited for not joining up with the travelling party, although the national boss noted “he’s been part of the Rangers squad all season.”

Lafferty’s no-show prompted several former Northern Ireland players to claim there’s no way back for the 68-times capped forward.

Asked if his international future is now in question, O’neill – who has vowed to address the issue when he returns home – said: “It’s not a case of his international future hanging in the balance, but

it certainly hasn’t helped. “International football is a choice and at this moment in time Kyle has chosen to make himself unavailable.”

Asked about Lafferty’s last minute decision, O’neill said: “I was unhappy to be telephoned 12 o’clock at night when I was expecting the player to turn up on Monday.

‘But he’s no more important than any of the other 23 players we have here. At the end of the day, the player has made himself unavailable, so we concentrate on the squad here.”

Asked if he plans showdown talks with Lafferty after the international break, O’neill replied: “I haven’t thought about what happens next.

“Since the conversation, my focus has really been preparing the team.

“We won’t play another international until November so there’s plenty of time to have that discussion.”