Kyle has a goal

International Friendly, KO 5.05pm

KYLE LAFFERTY hopes tonight’s friendly helps ignite his national fortunes and turn him into a goal machine again.

Lafferty, who last scored for Northern Ireland almost five years ago, will wear the skipper’s armband against the USA at Windsor Park.

And he hopes a strike of any description will spark a fresh salvo of goals for his country.

“I have been slightly off it for Northern Ireland in recent times, but if one hits the back of the net, I’m confident more will follow,” said Lafferty. He burst on the scene as a teenager and scored the first of his 20 international goals on his third cap in a 2-1 friendly win over Finland in 2006.

The ex-Rangers striker went on to bag seven goals in nine qualifiers to fire Northern Ireland to Euro 2016, but the goals have dried up in recent years.

The forward has gone 22 internationals without a goal, dating back to a 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Azerbaijan in 2016.

“It would mean everything to score again,” said Lafferty.

A fully-firing Lafferty would be a major boost for boss Ian Baraclough at the start of a new World Cup qualifying campaign.

Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to Italy in Parma means a win is vital in the next Group C outing against Bulgaria in Belfast on Wednesday.