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Kyle Lafferty insists Steven Gerrard has all the tools to be the "next best thing" in management and revealed how impressed he has been with the boss since moving back to Ibrox.

In a revealing interview the Northern Ireland striker also stated there is belief in the Rangers dressing room they can win title No.55 and why he is so grateful to have a second chance at the club he supported as boy after leaving six years ago.

Lafferty won multiple trophies in his first spell at Rangers between 2008 and 2012 before returning to Scotland last year with Hearts where he proved to be a big success.

This season he continued that form netting a spectacular winner against Celtic for the Tynecastle outfit. Then last month he made what was a dream move for him back to Rangers to join the Gerrard revolution.

The 30-year-old is loving every second of it and insists with the Liverpool legend at the helm, the good times are going to roll for Rangers.

(Image: SNS Group)

Speaking to Northern Ireland radio station Cool FM about Gerrard, Lafferty said: “He’s pretty impressive to be honest. He’s a young manager and in the first two weeks from what I’ve seen so far he’s going to be the next best thing.

“The way he speaks and puts things across to the squad it is impressive. For any young manager looking to go into coaching or managing you just need to look at him.

“In the Press, no matter who is asking him questions or what’s put in front of him he’s coming across really well.

“And his training is tough. He was one of those players whatever way he trained on the park he took it into games and he is trying to get that across to the lads. Training is really good and it’s going to be good times for Rangers.”

(Image: SNS Group) (Image: SNS)

The Ibrox side suffered their first defeat under Gerrard on Sunday, going down 1-0 to Celtic, who are already four points clear of their Old Firm rivals in the Scottish Premiership with four league games played.

Lafferty concedes Brendan Rodgers’ men were the better team at the weekend but feels the gap is closing and Rangers players have faith they can make a genuine title challenge this term.

He added: “It will be tough. Celtic have been champions for many years but we now have a squad that can compete.

“Sunday was a disappointing result but with travelling and playing 38 minutes with nine men (in the Europa League) it was tough for us.

“Obviously there is going to be no excuses for the performance we’ve put in and Celtic were probably the better team on the day but we are on a good road now and a good path and we’re going to kick on and we’ll be much closer to Celtic. Everyone in the Rangers dressing room believes that we’ll get 55 and that this will be the year we’ll win the league.

“We’ll just keep on working hard on the training ground. Obviously we have the Europa League as well so the games will come thick and fast and it’s a good place to be. I couldn’t be happier to be a Rangers player.”

Asked about returning to Ibrox, Lafferty said: “It wasn’t difficult at all. No disrespect to Hearts. I loved my time there and will have friends from there for a long time and I wouldn’t have changed anything but when you support a team and they come calling it is difficult to turn that down.

“With how I left I was disappointed with myself at the time and I decided to move on and I regretted it from the day I walked out those doors.

"You don’t (normally) get a chance to play for Rangers two times around in your life and when that comes around there was only going to be one winner. I’ll give 110 per cent for the jersey every single time because I know what it means to me, my family and the fans. Once you give that you are halfway there and the goals will come.”

Lafferty added that he was delighted that Northern Ireland team-mate Gareth McAuley has now joined him at Rangers.

“When I heard he was coming I texted him to say ‘please tell me it’s true’ because I know what type of player he is," said the former Norwich player.

"He is an experienced player and he scores goals as well. I think the Scottish League will be perfect for him. I think he will play games and score goals for Rangers. He's a Rangers fan and he is another player the gaffer has brought in who knows what it means to himself, his family and the fans to put on the blue jersey.”