RANGERS HAVE ANNOUNCED the return of striker Kyle Lafferty on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old arrives from Hearts, where he scored 19 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions last season.

Lafferty also hit the winner against reigning champions Celtic at Tynecastle earlier this month.

It’s his second spell at Ibrox, having won three league titles, a Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups between 2008 and 2012.

The Northern Ireland international, who featured for Michael O’Neill’s side at Euro 2016, has previously been on the books at Burnley, Swiss side Sion, Italian club Palermo and Norwich City.

He will bolster Gers manager Steven Gerrard’s attacking options this season, but it has been confirmed that winger Jamie Murphy is out for the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Sunday’s League Cup win over Kilmarnock.

“He knows what this club is about,” said Gerrard. “There is no risk in terms of him performing in front of the demands of this crowd and this club, and the expectation.

I believe we’re a young squad so he brings vital experience to us. He’s a Rangers nut, he is desperate to come, and I think he ticks all the boxes that I’m looking for, what I want from a frontman.”

After one win and a draw in the Scottish Premiership so far, the Glasgow clubs face Russian outfit FC Ufa in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tonight (7.45pm).

The first Old Firm derby of the season takes place at Parkhead on Sunday, 2 September.

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