Kyle Lafferty will not be returning to Hearts

Striker opts to stay abroad

Kyle Lafferty looks set to continue his career abroad ruling out a return to Hearts in the current transfer window.

The striker is a free agent after the end of a short-term spell with Norwegian side Sarpsborg 08. Lafferty was a success at a team who were last in the Eliteserian, the country’s top flight, when he joined in August, after being released by Rangers.

He helped them avoid relegation by finishing 11th and with the season now over in Norway, the 32-year-old is looking for another club. Reports linked him with a return to Hearts, where he scored 19 goals, including a winner over Celtic, during a 13- month stay prior to returning to Ibrox in August 2018.

Kyle Lafferty in Hearts colours

His Northern Ireland manager, Michael O’Neill, suggested a move back to Scotland could be on the cards for the player in an interview in November but O'Neill also wondered if clubs would have the financial wherewithal to offer him a deal.

It’s now understood Lafferty’s itinerant career will continue elsewhere after successful spells in Switzerland, Italy, Turkey and now Norway.