Lafferty is set to miss Rangers’ clash against Hamilton on Sunday.
Kenny Miller has told BBC Sport that he simply does not understand the Irish FA’s decision to block Kyle Lafferty from playing in Rangers’ clash against Hamilton on Sunday afternoon.
The 31-year-old opted not to travel with the rest of the Northern Ireland squad last week, claiming he had injured his achilles. His country suffered defeats to Austria, and then Bosnia & Herzegovina.
But it is understood that the Irish FA and manager Michael O’Neill were not particularly happy with Lafferty’s decision to pull out of the squad, and invoked a five-day rule under FIFA guidelines which means Lafferty will miss Sunday’s clash.
Former Rangers captain Miller was bewildered by the situation when talking to Sportsound on Wednesday night, asking who benefits from the Irish FA’s decision to bar Lafferty from playing on Sunday.
“I just don’t see who the winner is,” Miller said. “It’s a strange situation for both the player and the FA. They’re ruling Kyle out from playing at the weekend, which is clearly going to anger Kyle.
“I can understand they may be a little bit disappointed in the call-off and maybe in the timing of the call-off and the reasons given. Kyle did say there’s been an injury and ongoing problem.”
Lafferty has started well at Rangers since returning to Ibrox for the first time following his exit in 2012, scoring four goals in nine outings including a brace against Motherwell and a crucial strike in Spain against Villarreal.
Without Lafferty, Rangers will have to reply on Alfredo Morelos to add to his tally of 11 for the season if the Gers are to overcome Martin Canning’s Hamilton at the SuperSeal Stadium.
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