Gerrard backs Lafferty as striker ruled out of clash

Steven Gerrard has revealed he has received an apology from Kyle Lafferty for the bust-up with Michael O’Neill that now rules the striker out of Rangers’ Sunday showdown at Hamilton.

The Northern Ireland striker has been barred from taking on Accies by the Irish Football Association after calling off from O’Neill’s squad at the last minute ahead of last week’s doubleheader with Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Belfast chiefs have invoked Fifa’s rarely-used five-day rule, which allows national associations to block players who pull out of playing for their countries from then turning out for their club side.

The move has been viewed by many Gers supporters as a draconian overreaction against a player whose goals helped fire Northern Ireland to Euro 2016.

But Gerrard admits Lafferty was in the wrong with his midnight call to O’Neill to say he would not be travelling.

“It’s a shame (that he misses Sunday) because he’s a good player and he’s been in good form since he came in,” said the Rangers boss, who will also be missing Scott Arfield and Borna Barisic for the Hope Stadium clash.

“But we respect and appreciate what’s gone on.

“He hasn’t followed the protocol and done the right thing so his punishment is that he can’t play on Sunday and any footballer doesn’t like missing games – I can assure you of that.

“I support him, of course I do. I always support my players 100%. He’s come in, apologised for what’s gone on.

“We respect Northern Ireland for the punishment they’ve given him and we move on.

“There’s nothing else to add to it.”