O’Neill offers hope to Northern Ireland’s fringe men

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill says his fringe players can still force their way into his Euro 2016 party.

The Northern Ireland squad are at a training camp in Manchester this week and O’Neill admits now is the last chance for anyone on the peripheries to stake a claim for a place.

The 46-year-old has a good idea of who will make his squad, but he revealed there are still a few places up for grabs.

“I know a high percentage of my 23-man squad, and I’m sure most people could guess who the certs are, but there is still time for other players to show why they should be in my plans for the finals,”

O’Neill told the Belfast Telegraph. “It is up to the players on the fringe to impress me and show me that they are in good form, that they are in good shape and could work well within the dynamic of our group for the tournament.”

It is understood that one place still in doubt is in attack. Kyle Lafferty, who completed the season on loan at Birmingham from Norwich, QPR’s Conor Washington and Josh Magennis of Kilmarnock are all but guaranteed places in O’Neill’s 23-man party, which would leave one striking spot available.

Wigan’s Will Grigg, who has managed 28 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions this season, and Ross County’s Liam Boyce, who scored 20 goals in 44 games, are the two men seemingly fighting for one place, but there is a chance O’Neill could include five strikers in his final Euro 2016 squad.

Northern Ireland have been handed a tough draw in France as they will face Germany, Ukraine and Poland in Group C. Northern Ireland are 3.50 to qualify from the group or 15.00 to be eliminated in the quarter-finals.