Northern Ireland hot-shot Lafferty fit after scare at Euro 2016

Northern Ireland's hot-shot striker Kyle Lafferty is fit to face Poland on Sunday at Euro 2016 after coming through an injury scare -- maybe with some divine help.

The 28-year-old Norwich City forward went down clutching his groin in training on Tuesday, but took part in training on Friday and has been given the green light to face Poland in Nice.

Having scored seven goals to help Northern Ireland qualify for their first European Championship finals, the team are relieved their star forward can play in their Group C opener.

Northern Irish fans have been keeping their fingers crossed that their star would be fit with the hashtag '#PrayforKyle' doing the rounds on social media site Twitter.

Defender Gareth McAuley confirmed the fitness of Lafferty, who tentatively tested the groin in training on Thursday, then took full part in Friday's session at Saint-Georges-de-Reneins.

McAuley joked how the striker had sought divine intervention to help his country's cause.

"He's all right. I think he was like Bambi on ice the other day (in training), but he's come through it all right. Some say he even slept in the hotel's chapel overnight," joked McAuley.

"He's in good spirits, he gave us all a bit of a scare in training, but we all knew afterwards that he wasn't bad.

"It only looked worse on television, because he was grimacing, but that was due to the cold water they poured on his groin, not the injury," McAuley added with a grin.