<
>

Kyle Lafferty injury scare played down by Northern Ireland boss O'Neill

Northern Ireland were given a scare just five days before their Euro 2016 campaign begins after key striker Kyle Lafferty limped out of training, although manager Michael O'Neill has played down the injury.

Lafferty, 28, injured himself when stretching to make an intervention during a session that was open to the public at Saint-Georges-de-Reneins, France, on Tuesday.

The Norwich player, who spent time on loan at Birmingham last season, then went in for assessment from the medical team while O'Neill's team continued their training drills.

"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 lightning, to be honest!''

Asked if it was Lafferty's groin that was injured, 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.''

Northern Ireland will be relieved that Lafferty's problem is not serious ahead of their opening Euro 2016 game against Poland on Sunday.

The striker is a key player for O'Neill, having scored seven times during qualification for the tournament in France.

As well as Poland, Northern Ireland will also come up against Ukraine and Germany in Group C over the coming weeks.