The return to form of Kyle Lafferty

BeSoccer 5 years ago 175
Kyle Lafferty has returned to form recently. AFP

Kyle Lafferty has had many ups and downs in his career, but is now returning to his best under Steven Gerrard.

The Northern Irishman was a central part of his country's qualification for the 2016 European Championships, with seven goals in the qualification rounds that took the nation to its first major tournament in 20 years.

While he was at an undoubted high at that point in his career, issues off the pitch such as a gambling habit meant that his performances for his club sides were not at the same level as his international ones.

A spell at Norwich yielded just four goals in 39 appearances characterised this, but having returned to Scottish football with Hearts, and now Rangers, the striker looks to be back to his best.

"I know Kyle Lafferty is in a really good place right now," Michael O'Neill, his international manager told the 'Daily Mail'.

"He's been very open about with his battle with gambling and it's great to see he seems to be on top of that now.

"Footballers can get bored when they don't play and Kyle spent three years at Norwich when he was earning decent money but not playing too much football.

"But he went on to rebuild himself in a year at Hearts, which is a credit to Kyle and a credit to Hearts as well.

"Now he is back at Ibrox I do see a boy that is content, focused and hungry to make the most of it."

 

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