Rangers and Northern Ireland head for clash over Kyle Lafferty

The Irish FA are set to prevent Kyle Lafferty from playing for Rangers at the weekend.
Kyle Laffery is set to miss Rangers' next game.Kyle Laffery is set to miss Rangers' next game.
Kyle Laffery is set to miss Rangers' next game.

The striker pulled out of the Northern Ireland squad for their Uefa Nations League double header against Austria and Bosnia & Herzegovina at the last minute.

Lafferty contacted boss Michael O'Neill the night before the squad were due to meet up to inform him that he would not be travelling.

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Ahead of the defeat to Austrian in Vienna O'Neill expressed his disappointment.

"Kyle had an Achilles problem, we knew he had an Achilles problem in September. He felt he would be better served not coming and being part of the squad for these two games - albeit he's been part of the Rangers squad all season.

"I was unhappy to be telephoned 12 o'clock at night, [when I was] expecting the player to turn up on Monday.

"Kyle made himself unavailable. I've said all along, international football is a choice. The player decides to play or he doesn't."

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O'Neill expects to have a chat with the player ahead of the November international break but the IFA are set to take action which will prevent Lafferty from featuring for Rangers against Hamilton this weekend.

A FIFA ruling allows governing bodies, such as the IFA, to request that a player cannot feature for his club until five days have passed at the end of an international period.

Rangers travel to face Accies on Sunday in the Ladbrokes Premiership.