Northern Ireland hero Gerry Armstrong’s views on Kyle Lafferty and his international omission echo what many have been saying.
The view from Northern Ireland has certainly been one of disgust towards the Rangers striker. Many pundits in his homeland can’t fathom why he would call off at the last minute. Even ex-Arsenal legend Ian Wright had his say on the matter a couple of days ago.
For those unaware, Lafferty called up Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill to inform him he wouldn’t be travelling with the squad the next day. This was despite the squad being released over a week in advance.
It has since been revealed that the decision was down to an achilles injury Lafferty felt flare up. Yet that excuse wasn’t one that Armstrong was willing to consider.
“He is our best striker when he is fit and available, but he obviously had his reasons for pulling out of such an important double-header — and at such a late stage.
“I know Kyle — there is something not right there. But Michael could be running out of patience with him. You can’t afford to persevere with people who continually let you down. Kyle needs to wise up and stop being stupid. He has to sort his head out.”
A contradiction?
Armstrong appears to contradict himself ever so slightly here. At first, he seems to empathise with Lafferty and state that he has his reasons for not turning up to the squad. Yet, almost instantaneously he states that something isn’t right and that O’Neill could lose patience with him.
We’ve been going on about this for days at Rangers News. Lafferty has been just as good for Northern Ireland as Northern Ireland has for Lafferty. The idea that he owes his national side any more than he gives is nonsense.
The towering striker has been a key figure in O’Neill’s teams in the past. If it wasn’t for him, it’s fair to say that the Northern Ireland manager wouldn’t have the reputation he currently does.
The fact the Rangers striker’s reasons have already been revealed – an achilles knock – should give him some leeway. Instead, still many people seem determined to drag him down.
Armstrong joins the likes of Billy Hamilton and Wright in condemning the Rangers star. It’s just a shame that none of them are bothering to actually listen to the idea that Lafferty could have an injury.
