Poland vs Northern Ireland team news: Kyle Lafferty confident of being fit for Euro 2016 opener

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Kyle Lafferty is optimistic he will be fit for Northern Ireland’s opening match against Poland after stepping up his recovery from the groin injury he suffered on Tuesday.

Lafferty trained alone while his team-mates were given the day off.

The 28-year-old came through the session unscathed and Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill played down concerns about the extent of the injury ahead of their game in Nice.

Lafferty’s seven goals during qualifying were crucial in helping Northern Ireland reach France but it would be a bold move if he does not fully recover in time and O’Neill gambles on his fitness.

Lafferty could risk aggravating the problem further and compromise his involvement in the other group matches, against Ukraine and Germany.

Meanwhile, Craig Cathcart says Northern Ireland are determined to prove their critics wrong in France.

Few outside Northern Ireland have backed them to progress from their group and Watford defender Cathcart says the team are using that as a source of inspiration. “When you hear things like that, it spurs you on to prove people wrong.”

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Kyle Lafferty confident of being fit for Euro 2016 openerEuro 2016Kyle LaffertyNorthern Ireland Poland vs Northern Ireland team news: Kyle Lafferty confident of being fit for Euro 2016 openerPublishedImageMedium width1Friday, June 10, 2016 - 14:28Confident: Kyle Lafferty believes he will win his fitness battleOnEnable video endboarddefault