Kyle Lafferty still has plenty to offer, maintains Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill

Michael O'Neill is confident his Northern Ireland forward Kyle Lafferty will be a success with his next club, provided they make him feel loved.

Since moving to Norwich in 2014 Lafferty has found games hard to come by, but he is now eligible for a free transfer after his contract expired this summer.

The Ulsterman only managed 16 appearances in all competitions last season under Alex Neil after two stunted loan spells.

O'Neill thinks this lack of regular playing time is hampering his development.

He said: "He needs to play. The last three years have been very, very frustrating for him with his opportunities at first-team level.

"In his defence, it's not like you can turn around and say he's been given a lot of chances. It's not like he's played loads and not scored - he's not played many games.

"The loan spells at Birmingham and at Rizespor served a purpose but they didn't really go possibly as well as what he may have liked."

While Lafferty has been reliable in front of goal at international level, scoring 20 goals in 59 games, the former Rangers player has struggled to settle domestically.

O'Neill believes Lafferty needs to operate in an environment where he is made to feel an important part of the team in order to flourish.

He said: "He needs to go somewhere where first of all he's happy that he's valued and if you make Kyle feel like that, he'll do well for you, simple as that."

Despite firing Northern Ireland to the European Championship finals in 2016, Lafferty has fallen behind Charlton Atheltic's Josh Magennis and Ross County's 23-goal marksman Liam Boyce, in the pecking order for Northern Ireland.

O'Neill, however, has faith in Lafferty to produce the goals needed if called upon against Azerbaijan in their crucial World Cup Qualifier, despite his lack of sharpness.

He said: "Kyle always steps up if required. He's not in the best condition that we'd like him to be, but for whatever part of the game he plays, I'm sure he'll make sure he does a good job for us."