Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GENIUS BY JAMBO
Former team-mate Healy believes Lafferty’s Tynecastle move is a marriage made in heaven and will put striker back into NI contention
DAVID HEALY has warned Hearts new boy Kyle Lafferty he’ll be a “marked man” in Scottish football – but only because he’s a good player. Lafferty’s history with Rangers and colourful off pitch antics will undoubtedly attract the attention of boo boys and wind-up merchants next season. But Healy, right, who played alongside Lafferty with Northern Ireland, believes his fellow countryman has the ability to make headlines for all the right reasons next season. The Linfield boss said: “Listen, Kyle will be a marked man because he’s a good player. If you’re not a good player, people forget about you. “I know he has immense ability and for Northern Ireland’s sake, I hope he hits the ground running because one thing he is capable of is hurting defences and scoring goals. “I roomed with Kyle and he’s a lovable rogue, but you don’t hear too many players who dislike him. “He takes some negative publicity at times for some off field antics, but he is a brilliant lad.” Lafferty, who has agreed a two-year deal at Tynecastle, is on a mission to revive a flagging club career that saw him play just 321 minutes for Norwich City last season. The 29-year-old, who has bagged 20 goals in 62 international appearances, won three Scottish Premier League titles with Rangers in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Healy said: “I hope he settles quickly because Kyle knows he is at the stage of his career where he needs to be playing regular first team football. “He needs to be playing 30 or 40 games a season. If he does that he’ll come back into the equation for Michael (O’neill). “If Kyle is on fire, there is no better man to lead the Northern Ireland attack.” Healy, who spent 18 months with Rangers six years ago, believes Lafferty will benefit from the fact Aaron Hughes and Northern Ireland coach Austin Macphee are both at Hearts. He also believes Jambos boss Ian Cathro – a target of derision since being appointed in December – has the management style to get the best out of the former Sion frontman. He said: “People in Scotland have their own ideas about the manager, but one thing I’ve heard is he helps players develop and make them better. Hopefully that happens. “If Kyle sees a manager, coach or club believing in him, he will thrive off that. I know Michael has put his arm around him and cajoled him along to keep him at it. “It’ll also benefit him that he knows Aaron Hughes and Austin Macphee. He’ll know people at the club.” On Lafferty’s joker in the pack reputation, Healy quipped: “We play Hearts in a friendly (on July 8) so he’ll probably be in my office tipping my folders up side down!”