Lee McCulloch: It just hasn't worked out for Kyle Lafferty second time around at Rangers

I am disappointed at how the campaign has gone for Kyle because he proved last year when he got 19 goals for Hearts that he can still score at this level. Of course, he had shown that with Rangers before.

As a signing, when he first came in I thought it was a no-brainer, but it just hasn’t happened for him.

He is the type of forward that needs a run of games, but he was never going to get that this season because of the form of Alfredo Morelos. He has ended up being a bit of a bit-part player and it looks as though, come the end of the season, he will be one that will leave.

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He has been a great servant to Rangers over the years but it just hasn’t worked out for him second time around unfortunately.

I don’t think he should be looked down at because of the important goals he scored for the team the first time around.

It is just the way it has worked for him. He has got a guy in front of him that has got 29 goals and has probably been Rangers’ Player of the Year, so it was always going to be difficult for Kyle to get in the team.

Then, in January, Jermain Defoe comes into the squad and adds even more competition for places.

He was a world class striker and has shown recently with his performances and his goals that he is still able to contribute.

So it will have been a hard one for Kyle, but he will probably admit himself that he didn’t hit the ground running at Rangers. From then, it was always going to be hard for him.

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When you play with Rangers, the demands are so high that you have to be at it in every training session and in every game or you quickly find yourself out of the picture. It is an unforgiving place to be at times.

There is a great saying that football feels sorry for nobody. Every single day, you need to go and prove yourself and impress.

That applies whether you are a young boy trying to break in, whether you are a first team player that needs to keep your place because there is someone breathing down your neck or if you are going for a new contract.

Whatever it may be, every single day you need to be dedicated and hard working. You can’t afford, at a club that size, have days where you let it slide.

You are always watching what you eat and drink, how you sleep, how you train and prepare and that has to go for everybody at the club.

I am not saying that is the reason with Big Laff. I don’t know why it hasn’t worked out for him this season but he must not have been doing enough to impress the manager when it matters.

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He can’t feel sorry for himself. He has to knuckle down and if it is the end for him at Rangers, he has to try and get a move this summer to get back to doing what he does best.

If he goes, it will free up a bit of money and there is then a place in the squad that Rangers have to fill.

Steven can’t afford to be in the same situation he was this year when he was short of options in the final third.

I can see Rangers making a marquee signing this summer and I think they could probably do with one. I don’t know who that could be, but it would be interesting if they could get a bigger name on loan that would really get the fans excited.

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in terms of the strikers in particular.