Northern Ireland v Romania: Lafferty full of belief

UEFA.com: Can you summarise the campaign so far?

Kyle Lafferty: Obviously at the start we had a target to reach, and we're well on our way. As you said, 12 points from 15 is incredible from where we were at the start. [Manager] Michael [O'Neill] has come in and all the lads are responding to him.

UEFA.com: Michael's been in charge for three and a half years now. What kind of changes have you seen in the team and yourself?

Lafferty: It's exceptional what he's done for me. Everything he says to me, I take on board. He's given me a responsibility and no other manager has made me feel like that. He knows how important I am to the squad. To have a manager with that much trust in me is good. I'm happy that I'm scoring goals, but I'm absolutely delighted that he's in charge when I'm doing it.

Me and Michael speak even when we're not together in the squad. And it's not all about football, it's about personal life as well – it's good to have someone that I can speak to. You could say that he's kind of like a second father figure to me.

UEFA.com: Romania have only conceded one goal so far – what do you think you'll have to do to get the three points?

Lafferty: I think when we played them [a 2-0 defeat in November] we had two or three chances we missed. I definitely had one. But we were missing [Jamie Ward and Steven Davis] and they've been superb this campaign. Everyone knows what Davy is all about – he makes the team tick – so to have him back in the squad and available for selection gives every single player a lift. We're facing Romania with our strongest XI, fighting for top position.

UEFA.com: What is your assessment of the Group F table? Four points clear of third and you could go top.

Lafferty: To go top would be an achievement, especially with four games to go, two at home. It's going to be an exciting game on Saturday, but I know if we play the way we have been and show the same fight, determination and heart, we'll get there. Everyone's excited – even in training, everyone's got a bit of a buzz. We're so close to going top and having one foot in France. I'm certain we'll get there. I know we're going to have to play tough games, but I believe in the squad, I believe in the manager and the coaching staff.

UEFA.com: There are a lot of other typically smaller nations who have been doing well in the EUROs lately. What's Northern Ireland's secret?

Lafferty: I heard Michael say in an interview that we didn't have the luck in the last campaign or the one before, and that's probably true. It was an odd mistake from some players, including myself, that let the team down. If someone makes a mistake now, there's always someone there to back them up, to give them a lift. I think it all comes down to the heart, the determination and the bond that we have in the team. I've been in a lot of other squads and I haven't seen anything like this. I think the country's starting to believe.