Kyle Lafferty joins Linfield after abrupt departure from Kilmarnock

Kyle Lafferty has signed for Linfield following his sudden exit from Kilmarnock.

The 35-year-old departed Killie on deadline day, several weeks after returning from a 10-match Scottish Football Association suspension for using sectarian language on a night out.

Lafferty has been reunited with his ex-Northern Ireland and Rangers team-mate David Healy, who is Linfield manager.

Healy told his club's official website: "I’ve no doubt that this signing will give everyone at the club a real boost and he can certainly make a significant contribution and impact over the course of the short-term contract that he has signed here."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes had seen Lafferty as an important member of his squad.

Speaking on February 1, he said: "The timing was awful to be honest but it was a decision made above me, between the board and Kyle."