Norwich City's out-of-favour striker Kyle Lafferty would consider a return to Rangers in a bid to kick-start his career after a bit-part role at Carrow Road.

Lafferty has only made one senior Norwich appearance since October 3 but is desperate for game-time ahead of Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 bow in the summer.

Alex Neil revealed earlier this year Lafferty had rejected a potential January loan move, with the 28-year-old heavily touted with another of his ex-clubs FC Sion, but the final emergency loan window of the current season closes on March 24.

Lafferty, speaking in a column in the Belfast Telegraph's Sunday Life, admitted he still has a soft spot for Rangers, who are closing in a return to the Scottish top flight and face an Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final tie against Celtic.

'In my mind the Old Firm derby is the most exciting football match in the world and I expect pure drama and passion to come to the fore in this cup semi-final,' he said. 'Rangers are on their way up and boss Warburton has recruited well while this is by no means the best Celtic team we've ever seen.

'I would love to be a part of another Old Firm derby but, as it stands today, I remain a Norwich City player and am doing all I can to make sure I am in the best possible shape for the Euro 2016 finals.'

Lafferty left the old Rangers in controversial circumstances in 2012.

'Despite our much publicised split in June 2012, I am still a huge supporter of Rangers football club,' he said. 'In fact, how my time at Ibrox came to an end is probably the biggest regret of my career. The circumstances were just all wrong for me at that particular time.

'Rangers were in severe financial difficulties, it was extremely complicated, I didn't have a clue if there would even be a club the following season and all their top players including Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis were leaving. I didn't walk out on Rangers but I felt I had little choice, It was a decision I had to make.

'While I regret it, the decision to leave opened up a world of opportunities for me. I was able to travel and played for both Sion in Switzerland and Palermo in Italy. I really enjoyed my time with Palermo, it was an exciting team to play for. The fans really took to me and I felt I really contributed to the side. Rangers and Palermo are the two clubs I would definitely go back to if the opportunity arose.'