LOOK WHO’S BACK... AND DESPERATE TO SHOOT DOWN RANGERS

KYLE LAFFERTY admits he’d relish a return to Ibrox for his Kilmarnock debut today. The Northern Ireland striker — who had two spells as a Rangers player — yesterday became Tommy Wright’s first signing at Rugby Park on a contract until the end of the season. Kilmarnock were last night working to secure international clearance after the end of Lafferty’s spell with Reggina in Italy last month allowed him to join a new club outside a transfer window. Providing it is processed in time, Wright confirmed the 33-year-old will be in his squad to face Steven Gerrard’s unbeaten Premiership leaders.

‘It would be good to go back there as I have some great memories,’ said Lafferty, who was released by Gerrard in 2019. ‘Seeing some of the players I have been in a dressing room with would be nice, but all friendships go out the window when you are on the pitch.

‘I will be doing everything I can to get three points for Kilmarnock if the international clearance comes across. ‘Everyone knows Rangers have been exceptional and they will win the league this season. Anyone who says they won’t, there’s something wrong with you and you’re delusional, really. ‘They are going to end up champions, so if we can give them a game and get points off them, it would be fantastic. For me, if I could go there and put in a good performance, maybe get a goal or two...’ Lafferty believes a return to Scottish football is best for him as he looks to rekindle his form with Hearts in the 2017-18 season.

It also brings him back closer to his family following the tragic death of his sister, Sonia, last November.

‘I just want to play football and the most successful season I’ve had in the last few years was at Hearts,’ he said.

‘I felt at home there, I felt loved and I got the goals. The position in the league probably didn’t do it justice but it was probably my best season in terms of goals and performances.

‘I know coming here how highly the gaffer thinks of me, so I will hopefully be able to help him get his first win. ‘Italy was good. I enjoyed it when I was there before with Palermo, and it started well for me.

‘But I lost my sister two months ago now and ever since then it changed. ‘I wanted to be close to my family here and my family back in Northern Ireland, too. It was difficult going back to Italy, not seeing them and only being on FaceTime. So I wanted to come back.’

Wright is delighted to get Lafferty on board for Killie’s relegation fight and hinted he could stay longer.

Asked about negotiations, Wright — who will be without the suspended Alan Power today — said: ‘I just told him to get his backside down here and that I’ll help him and he’ll help me in the remaining games.

‘He’s got a lot left, at least two or three seasons, and he needs to find a home and settle for two or three years now. Whether that’s with us at the end of this short contract or with someone else, that will be down to him.

‘We haven’t been scoring enough. The Motherwell game (a 1-0 loss in midweek) was a prime example.

Paul Stephenson (Wright’s assistant) said to me if we’d had Lafferty, he’d have scored a hat-trick.

‘We had 35 crosses into the box and you’d have expected him to get on the end of a few of them.

‘It’s not often when the window shuts you get a chance to sign someone of Kyle’s quality.’