Kyle Lafferty insists he would love to return to Rangers after revealing how he regards his Ibrox exit as the ‘biggest regret’ of his career.
As the Northern Ireland forward cuts a frustrated figure at Alex Neil’s Norwich City having made one appearance since October, the 28-year-old admits he is keen to move back to Glasgow.
Lafferty left Rangers under a cloud in summer 2012 when he refused to allow his contract to transfer to the newco at the peak of the club’s financial misery.
But Lafferty, who is desperate for game time ahead of his country’s Euro 2016 involvement, insists he would not think twice about returning.
He said: “Despite our much publicised split in June 2012, I am still a huge supporter of Rangers football club.
“In fact, how my time at Ibrox came to an end is probably the biggest regret of my career.
“The circumstances were just all wrong for me at that particular time.
“Rangers were in severe financial difficulties, it was extremely complicated. I didn’t have a clue if there would even be a club the following season and all their top players, including Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis were leaving.
“I didn’t walk out on Rangers but I felt I had little choice, It was a decision I had to make.
“While I regret it, the decision to leave opened up a world of opportunities for me. I was able to travel and played for both Sion in Switzerland and Palermo in Italy.
“I really enjoyed my time with Palermo. Rangers and Palermo are the two clubs I would definitely go back to if the opportunity arose.”
Speaking in his Belfast Telegraph Sunday Life column, Lafferty, who spent four years at Rangers after joining from Burnley, admits he is looking forward to next month’s Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final.
He added: “In my mind the Old Firm derby is the most exciting football match in the world and I expect pure drama and passion to come to the fore in this cup semi-final.
“Rangers are on their way up and boss Mark Warburton has recruited well, while this is by no means the best Celtic team we’ve ever seen.
“I would love to be a part of another Old Firm derby but, as it stands today, I remain a Norwich City player and am doing all I can to make sure I am in the best possible shape for the Euro 2016 finals.”
