Conor Washington says Kyle Lafferty will have a point to prove after being axed from Ian Baraclough’s initial plans for this month’s World Cup double header.
Lafferty was excluded from Northern Ireland’s squad to face Lithuania and Switzerland, but earned a weekend reprieve following an injury to Hull City’s Josh Magennis.
The 33-year-old, who joined Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta after leaving Kilmarnock in June, has gone 25 games and five years without an international goal.
But Washington is confident the veteran hitman has the ability to prove people wrong if given an opportunity against Lithuania in Vilnius on Thursday night.
“There is no doubt in my mind or anyone else’s here that Kyle still has a lot to give and when he comes in he instantly raises the bar,” he said.
“He went to Kilmarnock last season and scored a hatful of goals, so there’s no doubt if you can get Kyle playing and in the right position, he will score goals.
“That is obviously something the manager will have in his mind over the next three games and the camps to come.
“Kyle is also great to have around the place. He’s a real livewire and great with the younger lads after scoring so many goals and having all that experience.”
Only two of Northern Ireland’s last 14 goals have come from the striking department and it’s a return Washington, whose last international goal was against Estonia in Tallinn two years ago, is eager to address.
“Ultimately my job is to score goals and create goals,” said the Charlton Athletic forward. “We need to be more clinical and ruthless because those little margins are what have been costing us.”
If Baraclough opts to go with a 3-5-2- formation in Vilnius, Washington, Lafferty, in-form Blackpool striker Shayne Lavery and Dion Charles will all by vying for a starting berth up front.
