Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough insists he hasn’t turned his back on Kyle Lafferty after Hungarian reporters aired their surprise that the in-form Kilmarnock striker isn’t currently part of his plans.
Lafferty bagged two crucial goals against Hungary in Euro 2016 qualifying en route to France, scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory in Budapest and a vital equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Belfast.
And that prompted one Hungarian reporter to ask why the 34-year-old, who scored a brace for Killie at the weekend, isn’t in the national set-up.
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“In Hungary, we remember Kyle Lafferty but we don’t have to fear him tomorrow night,” said the visiting journalist. “Why didn’t you invite him?”
“I just felt we have four or five strikers who are in better form than Kyle at this moment in time, and that’s no disrespect to Kyle,” replied Baraclough.
“He’s come back to Scotland and scored a couple at the weekend. He knows the door is always open and I know I can’t turn anyone away.
“If they are in form, there’s a chance they’ll be selected. There’s competition for places now and that’s something we’ve tried to build over the last couple of years.”
Baraclough started with Blackpool’s Shayne Lavery and Wigan Athletic new boy Josh Magennis against Luxembourg and Magennis repaid his faith with a goal in a 3-1 win.
Magennis, who joined Wigan from Hull City in January, also scored in his last two League One outings for his new club.
“Strikers have purple patches,” said Baraclough. “It is difficult to go to a new club and start scoring, but he is now on a hot streak and a confident Josh Magennis is difficult to handle.
“I also think he has been treated unfairly by referees on some occasions. He is not malicious, he doesn’t fling his arms and elbows around; he is a big lad and uses his strength well.
“I am pleased to see him being greedy actually. With his goal against Luxembourg, at other times we might have seen him try to lay that off and try to pass to an oncoming George Saville maybe.
"But it is good to see him going for it.”
Lafferty, who has 20 goals in 85 caps, made his last Northern Ireland appearance against Estonia in September, while his last goal in a green shirt was in November 2016.
The frontman, who returned to Kilmarnock from Anorthosis in January, has scored a remarkable 20 goals in only 23 appearances in two spells with the Scottish club.
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