Barry Ferguson believes that the “gauntlet has been thrown down” to Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty and that he has the ability to be a player who makes a real impact on the team.
The forward was left out of the matchday squad for the clash against Livingston last Sunday, something which Ferguson says would have affected the 31-year-old somewhat – but adds how he is “frustrated” with Lafferty, as he thinks he is a much better player than he has been showing everyone.
Ferguson reckons that Lafferty now needs to prove to Steven Gerrard that he deserves to stay with the Gers after being left out of the 3-0 win at the weekend.
“Kyle Lafferty has always been a lovable rogue. So when the manager gave him a slap in the face at Livingston on Sunday it must have brought the whole picture sharply into focus. Make no mistake, this was his wake up call and now it’s up to Kyle to prove that he’s bright enough to see it for it is,” he wrote in his Daily Record column.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Lafferty is Rangers class. I know because I played with him at Rangers and I could see straight away that he had something special in his locker. So the gauntlet has been thrown down to Lafferty and it’s entirely up to him now what happens next.
“What I find frustrating is that he is a far better player than he has shown so far this season and so Gerrard hasn’t had the chance to see what he’s actually missing. But the manager should trust me on this, Lafferty firing on all cylinders is a sight to behold. A real handful who is almost unplayable when he’s on the top of his game.”
OPINION
Ferguson is right – it is now up to Lafferty to prove to Gerrard that he is worthy of staying at Rangers. With Alfredo Morelos no doubt the first choice forward and Jermain Defoe providing more options, now could not be a better time for him to demonstrate just how good he can be. The fact he was left out of the matchday squad to face Livingston must have been a kick in the teeth for him, and it must have been a wake-up call telling him that he has not been good enough recently. Like Ferguson has pointed out here, Lafferty can be unplayable when he is on form, which is exactly why Gerrard should give him a chance at the club. There is no reason why he cannot force his way into Gerrard’s plans, but in order for that to happen, he must start showing he is worthy – the gauntlet has been thrown down, so it is up to him whether he decides to act upon it.