KYLE LAFFERTY: Michael O'Neill to hold crunch talks with Rangers striker

Tensions have been running high following Lafferty's late withdrawal from the Northern Ireland squad for the Nations League games against Austria and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

That led to the Irish FA invoking FIFA's five day rule on Wednesday which means Lafferty will not be able to feature for Steven Gerrard's side in Sunday's game against Hamilton.

Things had been looking bleak for the international future of the Fermanagh man, who has scored 20 goals at international level, but it now seems O'Neill does not want to close the door on him completely.

Reports on Thursday morning suggest clear the air talks will be held in a bid to integrate Lafferty back into the squad for next month’s games against the Republic of Ireland and Austria or play a part in the Euro 2020 qualifiers which begin in March.

Lafferty ruled out as Irish FA confirm they have invoked FIFA regulation

Meanwhile, former Northern Ireland captain Iain Dowie has said Lafferty 'must want to play for Northern Ireland'.

"Kyle has done a fantastic job for us, he's a very important player for Northern Ireland but you've got to want play for your country," said Dowie.

"I don't know what is going on, it may be that he has got a legitimate injury and if he has that's fine but at the very heart of this you've got to want to play for Northern Ireland.

"No manager would have ever told me ever to pull out of a Northern Ireland squad nor any friend close to me would have even asked me that so I don't know the full story but if he's not injured he should have been there."