Lafferty out to silence Rangers critics

Rangers forward Kyle Lafferty says he will silence his critics and become an Ibrox star thanks to Walter Smith's faith in him.

The Northern Ireland international was the club's most expensive signing in the summer when he made the switch from Burnley for 3.25 million pounds, but the 21-year-old has so far struggled to make a major impact as early season injuries hindered his progress.

He was also one of a number of players who came in for some hefty criticism following last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Hearts.

But the tall striker, who is likely to feature against Hamilton in their Scottish Premier League clash on Saturday, says his manager's faith in him makes him determined to justify his large transfer fee.

“I've been criticised quite a lot but it is not going to get me down. If anything it makes me stronger and makes me want to prove to the fans I can do a job,” said Lafferty.

“I want to show the people out there who are doubting me that Rangers have a good player on their hands. All I have to do is work hard and keep listening to the people around me. If I take their advice, I'm hopeful of doing well.

“The gaffer and (assistant coach) Ally McCoist have both had a word and told me to keep my head up and not get despondent.

“If I ran at defenders then lost the ball, I was expecting a telling-off. But they've told me to keep playing my own game and it has made me a lot more relaxed on the ball.”

With Old Firm rivals Celtic not playing until Sunday, Rangers have the chance to cut the gap at the top of the table to four points with a win over Hamilton.

Billy Reid's side travel to Ibrox on a high following their win over Kilmarnock last weekend which took them off the bottom.

Celtic travel to Edinburgh to take on Hibernian at Easter Road.

The Parkhead club are aiming to make it 13 wins on the trot in the league and keep their seven-point lead.

The champions have been boosted by the news that midfield star Shunsuke Nakamura is unlikely to leave the club in the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, there appears to be unrest in the Hibs camp with striker Abdessalam Benjelloun criticising manager Mixu Paatelainen's long ball tactics.

In Saturday's other games, bottom club St Mirren travel to Falkirk needing a win and other results to go their way if they are to leapfrog Hamilton and get out of the relegation zone.

A win for the home side could see them break into the top six.

Inverness host Dundee United buoyed by a good performance against Celtic last weekend.

United will be boosted by the news that manager Craig Levein signed a new contract to keep him at Tannadice until 2012.

Kilmarnock welcome Aberdeen to Rugby Park hoping to get back to winning ways after two consecutive defeats. The Dons, who lie in fifth place, are on a high after last weekend's defeat of Motherwell at Pittodrie.

Hearts make the trip to Motherwell hoping to make it six league wins in a row after last week's defeat of Rangers.

They could increase their grip on third place with a win although rumours of players' wages going unpaid continue to surround the club.