The Norwich striker pulled up in the second day of training in the team’s base in Saint-Georges-de-Reneins as the team continue to settle into life in France.
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Northern Ireland were given a scare just five days before their Euro 2016 campaign begins after key striker Kyle Lafferty limped out of training, although manager Michael O’Neill has played down the injury.
O’Neill said: “All fine, all good”. It was a little twist [of the groin] but on examination we don’t expect any issues at all.
O’Neill attempted to quell fears over Lafferty’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s opener against Poland. “We’re just being careful”.
It is believed that the 28-year-old overstretched while trying to reach a loose ball, but O’Neill has insisted that the problem is not serious. The pitch is hard and you’re always liable for these little situations to happen in training.
The team arrived there on Monday and those players who featured in Slovakia on Saturday night, including Craig Cathcart and Kyle Lafferty – both men came off with knocks – were involved in rehabilitation work.
“I didn’t really see it, it was in the middle of possession so it was pretty frantic anyway”, the QPR forward said. “I think he should be fine”.
Michael O’Neill’s side are in Group C with Germany, Ukraine and Poland.
“It was odd but very welcome”, said defender Conor McLaughlin.
Chances: Given the fact it will be Northern Ireland’s first appearance at a European Championships, anything will be a bonus.
Those punters may not have known the identity or career trajectories of numerous Northern Irish players and McLaughlin and Washington own two of the better back-stories in the camp.
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“A couple of years ago nobody would know who I was”.
