Glasgow Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has seemingly confirmed that Kyle Lafferty will start the Ibrox side’s Europa League opener on Thursday.
In comments reported by the Daily Record, Steven Gerrard has suggested that Kyle Lafferty will start Rangers’ Europa League group-stage opener, and insisted that he is looking forward to seeing the Gers star come up against their opponents.
Lafferty has made a mixed start since returning to Ibrox in the latter stages of the summer transfer window. He bagged a brace on his Scottish Premiership debut for the Light Blues, but has not found the back of the net in any of his four other appearances.
But with Alfredo Morelos suspended for the group-stage bow with Villarreal, Gerrard has backed the Northern Irishman to come in and perform well, especially as he believes that the La Liga side will not have come up against a striker of Lafferty’s attributes too often.
“Kyle will lead the line and there are no secrets,” he said, as reported by the Daily Record.
“He goes into the game in good form and in a good place. He’s the type Villarreal won’t be used to playing on a weekly basis as he has different attributes to a typical La Liga striker. I’m looking forward to seeing him play – all the players have earned the right to play against such a good team.”
Lafferty may not have made a rapid start, but there is no reason to believe that he will not be able to cause Villarreal’s defence a large number of problems on Thursday.
The 31-year-old has a good record when it comes to shining on the big occasion, and given what Rangers have been through in the last few years, this will undoubtedly be one of the biggest stages that the Gers have been on for a long time.
Rangers will be without Ovie Ejaria, Ryan Jack and Gareth McAuley for the game due to injury, while Jon Flanagan joins Morelos in being suspended.
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