Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has insisted there is still a route back into international football for Kyle Lafferty despite a club emerging showing him using alleged sectarian language.
Lafferty had been selected by Baraclough and was named in the group to face Kosovo and Greece, but came under serious scrutiny when a widely-shared clip emerged online. Kilmarnock have announced they will investigate a video showing him using alleged sectarian language in the clip where Lafferty was seen preparing to pose for a photo with a man, but as the clip is being filmed the man is heard saying “up the Celts” and after stepping away the striker is then alleged to have used derogatory sectarian language.
With the investigation underway at Rugby Park, the Northern Ireland manager said a back injury had also been considered when the decision was made to withdraw the striker from the squad and not just the controversy. He also insisted the 35-year-old still had a future in international football.
Ahead of the Nations League clash with Kosovo, Baraclough said: "It's not necessarily the end. It will be reported in some quarters as that and it will be sensationalised but I'm there for Kyle.
"I'm not going to go into the conversation but it's right that we spoke about things.. You have to discuss them (with the player). He's a player of ours and there's an attention to detail you have to take care of.
"I can't elaborate on what the statement says but clearly it's something that we'd rather not be talking about. I'm here to support my players. I've always looked at the manager's role as having many facets to it and that includes being a father figure, someone they can turn to and talk to, and that relationship will still be there.
"The fact was that Kyle hadn't trained since Tuesday. He's got a back problem and that was something that was part of the thought going behind it as well.
"We're fully focused now. The squad are aware of the situation. Kyle is a popular figure within the group. For me, everyone rallies around him and it's a case of looking towards Kosovo, talking about the football side.
"The concentration has been there all week. There's a focus and an energy. It's clearly different to how it was in June and we can't wait for it to start."
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