Kyle Lafferty returns to Northern Ireland squad

Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough says Kyle Lafferty deserves his international recall at the age of 34 after helping Kilmarnock into the cinch Premiership.

Lafferty, a hero of Northern Ireland's successful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and the second top scorer for his country’s men’s team, has been selected for next month’s Nations League fixtures against Greece, Cyprus and Kosovo.

"I suppose it was big news when Kyle was left out of the squad previously, but the door was never closed on him," Baraclough said.

"He’s applied himself very well at Kilmarnock, scored goals to get them back in the Scottish Premiership, and he deserves his recall.

"Hopefully he can bring that form into the Northern Ireland squad.

"We scored three goals against Luxembourg (in March) and we could have scored more.

"But it (scoring) has been an age-old question for Northern Ireland and Northern Irish strikers, whether we can hit the target enough."

There are several notable absentees from a 28-man squad with Baraclough citing injuries and fatigue, both mental and physical, as contributing factors.

Stuart Dallas, Craig Cathcart and Josh Magennis are among those sidelined, while Corry Evans, Shane Ferguson, Tom Flanagan and Matthew Kennedy also miss out.

Uncapped Glentoran forward Conor McMenamin is one four new call-ups, alongside Shea Charles, Brodie Spencer and Charlie McCann.

McMenamin, 26, has not played previously for Northern Ireland at any level but impressed on a four-day training camp in England last week.

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