Rangers suspend Kyle Lafferty

Kyle Lafferty has been suspended by Rangers for two weeks for a breach of club discipline, which means his season has effectively ended.

It has been reported the striker has been punished for not joining up with the squad on Friday night before the 3-0 Scottish Premier League victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.

The Northern Ireland international has been struggling with a hernia issue, but has recently been used off the bench by bossAlly McCoist.

Lafferty, who in March agreed a 75 per cent wage cut, was reportedly involved in a row with McCoist.

The Rangers boss is expected to speak on the issue on Tuesday, but the club have released a statement on their official website.

“Rangers have suspended forward Kyle Lafferty for two weeks following a breach of discipline,” said the club on Tuesday.

“Reports in this morning’s press carried details of a fall-out between the Northern Ireland striker and manager Ally McCoist ahead of Saturday’s game at Hearts.

“And the club has today confirmed the 24-year-old’s punishment which effectively ends his season early.

“Lafferty has been struggling with hamstring and groin problems since the start of 2012 after being plagued by back issues in the second half of last year.

“But he recently returned to action and scored the clincher from the penalty spot in a 3-1 win over St Mirren on April 7.

“He did not travel to Edinburgh for the next match at Tynecastle though and his club ban sees him miss meetings with Celtic, Dundee United and Motherwell.

“Although he could be available for the friendly game at Linfield and the final SPL fixture at St Johnstone, he is lacking fitness and is therefore unlikely to be picked.”

The negative headline is the latest piece of bad news to come out of Rangers shortly after club owner Craig Whyte was banned for life from any involvement in Scottish football and a 12-month transfer embargo was imposed by the Scottish Football Association.