Northern Ireland boss has ‘no major concerns’ over player’s fitness O’Neill allays key striker injury fears

LAFFERTY:

Northern Ireland received a pre-Euro 2016 scare when Kyle Lafferty limped out of training yesterday, though boss Michael O’Neill insisted there are “no major concerns” over the key striker’s groin problem.

Lafferty, who scored seven goals in qualification to fire the country to France, appeared to injure himself stretching to make an intervention during a public training session at Saint-Georges-de-Reneins.

After going down on the pitch, he went inside for medical assessment and did not return for the rest of training.

However, O’Neill spoke afterwards in an attempt to quell fears over Lafferty’s fitness five days before they kick off their Euro 2016 campaign against Poland in Nice.

“It’s fine, it’s precautionary, we have no major concerns there,” O’Neill said.

“It’s a little twist, but on examination we don’t expect any major issues at all. We’re just being careful, we’re more concerned about the thunder and

“We’re all led to believe that he’s okay. I think he should be fine. CONOR WASHINGTON

lightning, to be honest!”

Asked about the extent of Lafferty’s groin problem, O’Neill replied: “He just twisted it a little bit there when he slipped, the pitch is hard. Those little situations are always liable to happen, no major concerns there at all.”

Lafferty had been withdrawn against Slovakia last Friday as a precaution over a calf problem and while he was in full training four days on, defender Craig Cathcart, also taken off in Trnava, did not join the main group yesterday as he worked off on a bike on the side.

Conor Washington, who may be in line to start in attack alongside Lafferty against the Poles, also played down fears over his 28-year-old colleague.

“I didn’t really see it, it was in the middle of possession so it was pretty frantic anyway,” the QPR forward said.

“We’re all led to believe that he’s okay. As soon as you take a little knock in training you want to step out and assess it. I think he should be fine.”

Around 500 locals armed with Northern Ireland flags witnessed O’Neill’s group put through their paces in the sunshine at their base just north of Lyon.

“It was strange but very welcome,” said defender Conor McLaughlin, who plays for League One Fleetwood.

“Even driving through the town, with all the Northern Ireland flags in the windows, it gives you a feel for the country and how excited they are for the tournament,” he said.

“It’s been brilliant to be a part of this group and we’re making history nearly every week now.”

Michael O’Neill checks on Kyle Lafferty as he lies injured during training at Parc de Montchervet.