Source: Team_Talk
McCoist gutted to lose Lafferty
The striker has been ruled out of action for around six weeks after suffering ankle ligament damage after scoring in last week's 2-2 draw with Hearts.
The Northern Ireland international could return in time to play a part in the title run-in, as well as the Homecoming Scottish Cup final if Rangers progress past St Mirren in the semis.
But, after feeling as though he was finally beginning to prove himself at Ibrox, McCoist knows news of the lengthy lay-off has been a major disappointment for Lafferty.
He said: "It's a massive blow, more so for the player himself because I felt, and I'm sure a lot of people would agree, that in the last couple of games he was beginning to look like himself.
"He got a couple of goals and was looking the part. It just sums up his season a little bit because he has had one or two injuries and it has been a stop-start season for him.
"But I'll remain optimistic until I'm told otherwise."
Lafferty has never hidden his desire to play as a centre-forward rather than the wide left position he has been deployed in at times this season, and was just beginning to make an impact in his desired role.
McCoist added: "In my opinion he will be a centre-forward and a good one at that.
"We've probably been a little bit unfair on Kyle by playing him out on the left.
"Sometimes you just try to get all your goalscorers on the park so you can get more goals from all areas.
"Maybe that was a little unfair on him although he did score at Tannadice.
"He looks more at home through the middle, with goals against Hamilton and Hearts, and I thought he played well in the game against Celtic through the middle in the second half.
"It's a real disappointment for him but he's young and he will handle it fine.
"He will be down in the dumps. But I'm very hopeful we will see him before the end of the season.
"If it's not to be, then it's not to be, but I think we have seen enough of him through the middle to realise he is now a good centre-forward for us."
Speaking on Rangers World, McCoist believes Lafferty has already shown he has much more to offer at Rangers.
He said: "Just before his injury, I thought he was the outstanding player on the park.
"Then he goes over on his ankle and damages the ligaments and that's a real disappointment. But, for 25 minutes, he was arguably the best player on the park."
