Lafferty will lift his game, says Coyle

OWEN COYLE believes Steven Gerrard’s decisive action in the transfer market will put the entire Rangers squad on notice. The former Ross County, St Johnstone, Blackburn and Burnley coach hailed the Ibrox boss for moving so quickly to secure Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis on loan deals, along with Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara on pre-contracts for next season. Gerrard had vented at his players for not doing the Rangers shirt justice in the lead-up to the winter break. But the ex-England and Liverpool captain’s hardline approach has paid dividends, culminating in a first Old Firm league win since 2012 on December 29 which sent Rangers joint top of the Premiership, albeit having played a game more than Celtic. ‘Rangers have now got severe competition for places,’ said Coyle. ‘Steven and Gary McAllister are sending the message out: “We’re going to bring good players in because we want to raise our level. ‘You’re either going to come with us on that journey or you won’t.’ The man perhaps most threatened by Defoe’s arrival is Coyle’s former player, Kyle Lafferty. The pair were together at Burnley before the Northern Irish striker departed for his first spell at Rangers in 2008. Signed from Hearts in August to provide back-up to Alfredo Morelos, the 31-yearold is on the longest goalless streak of his career, having failed to score since a 5-1 win over St Johnstone in September, 13 appearances ago. With Defoe — a proven goalscorer at all levels with 273 career strikes to his name — now among Gerrard’s options, Lafferty faces an uphill task to return to the team. It is, however, a task Coyle believes he’ll relish. ‘When he’s at his best physically and mentally, Kyle is a huge asset for any club,’ he said.