Northern Ireland handed Ward boost

Northern Ireland have received a boost ahead of Euro 2016 with news forward Jamie Ward is expected to recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature at the finals this summer.

The Nottingham Forest player sustained the injury during his club’s 2-1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday, with the problem initially threatening his participation in France.

Forest player-coach Andy Reid has now allayed those fears by revealing the Birmingham-born player’s injury is not as serious as it potentially could have been.

Reid said: “Jamie has been for a scan, so we are assessing him still. We know roughly where we stand, but we need to monitor him for a few days yet and hope it will settle down.”

Such news will come as a welcome boost to the Green and White Army and their boss Michael O’Neill, as they prepare to compete in their first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.

Northern Ireland have already lost experienced full-back Chris Brunt to injury ahead of the tournament and they will be desperate to have Ward available, as the versatile forward featured in six of their ten qualifying matches for the finals.

O’Neill’s side will take on world champions Germany, Ukraine and Poland in Group C of the tournament, and they are available at 23.00 to finish top of the group, while they are on offer at 3.30 to qualify for the knock-out stages.