Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has backed Kyle Lafferty to be a big hit for Rangers in his second spell at the club.
Lafferty will almost certainly be the main man in attack for Steven Gerrard’s side tomorrow night in Spain given Alfredo Morelos is suspended for the clash against Villarreal.
His physical presence in the final third will be absolutely vital as an out ball for the Gers and if we’re to get anything from the game, he’ll likely play a big part.
He is no stranger to European football, especially on the international stage, where he scored seven goals to help his country qualify for Euro 2016 under the guidance of O’Neill.
Now his national boss believes his new found confidence and resolution of his off field problems can make him a big weapon for Rangers.
As quoted by The Daily Mail, the Northern Ireland man said:
If you had given Kyle a choice of where in the world he wanted to play his football, there would be no other place for him than Rangers.
Now he is back at Ibrox I do see a boy that is content, focused and hungry to make the most of it.
Kyle definitely has the potential to be a really big player for Rangers – in Europe as well as domestically.
It’s important to have a striker like Kyle, especially away from home when you sit a little deeper.
The focus of Rangers’ performance on Thursday evening will undoubtedly be in defence, but the work ethic of Lafferty should be a key weapon in that regard too.
He’s shown in his early appearances for the club this season that he is not afraid to get stuck into matches and give his all, as well as chipping in with goals.
Hopefully he can prove himself to be a key weapon in the absence of Morelos.
Can Kyle Lafferty fill Alfredo Morelos’ boots tomorrow night? Share your thoughts in the comments below…