Kyle Lafferty needs game time before Euro 2016, says Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill
Sunday 10 January 2016 13:10, UK
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill wants Norwich City striker Kyle Lafferty to get more first-team action before next summer's European Championship in France.
Lafferty has barely featured for Alex Neil's side so far this season, playing just 27 minutes in the Premier League for the struggling Canaries, while scoring only once in the Capital One Cup.
In stark contrast, however, the frontman managed seven goals in just nine matches for his country to help them qualify for the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1986.
Leeds United enquired about taking Lafferty on loan in November and O'Neill is desperate for the 28-year-old to play more between now and the end of the season.
"It has been a very difficult time for him because his time at Norwich, I do not think he has had much opportunity," O'Neill told Goals on Sunday.
"He also went six months on loan to Caykur Rizespor in Turkey last year primarily to get games so that he would be able to play and be at his best in the international games.
"And he was fantastic against Finland, he scored two great goals for us, played well against Romania in June for us as well.
"So I think his situation - it is not ideal for him and club managers have a difficult job, they have to pick their squad however they feel. So certainly in his case I do not think he has had very much opportunity, the minutes have been very, very limited.
"And I just hope, whether it is at Norwich, that between now and the finals he gets the opportunity to show what a good player he is, because for us he is being phenomenal."
