Kyle Lafferty has revealed he would be keen on a return to Hearts but admitted he would love to go abroad again.

The Northern Ireland international is a free agent having been released by Sunderland following the end of his short-term deal at the English League One side.

Lafferty is on the lookout for his fourth club since leaving Hearts in 2018 after 20 goals in 48 appearances for the Tynecastle side.

Kyle Lafferty is available after leaving Sunderland. Picture: SNS

He returned to Rangers when Steven Gerrard bought him in summer 2018 before having his deal terminated the following summer. The 32-year-old moved to Norway to sign for Sarpsborg 08 before joining Sunderland in January.

Not keen to rush into anything with his partner set to give birth, Lafferty talked up a potential move outside the UK.

“I love going abroad,” he told Si Ferry on Open Goal. “Everything that comes with it, training in the afternoon, having a coffee in the sun. It's a different feeling.

“I think my game suits abroad.

“People who don’t understand English and my language, I can say whatever I want and they just look at me and smile.”

Following his success at Hearts and the subsequent adoration from the Tynecastle support, Lafferty’s name is always likely to be linked with a move back as happened following his exit from Rangers and then again in January when he was available.

The player still holds plenty of fond memories of the club.

Although new boss Robbie Neilson has made creative wide players a priority as he targets “three or four” new signings.

“I’d go back to Hearts,” he revealed.

“Even when I left Rangers I spoke to Austin who said ‘your name’s there, it’s up to the manager now’. But I think he wanted to sign his own players rather than people who had been there before.

“But I’d go back to Hearts. They are an amazing club, amazing people own it.”

“I think what’s happened with them now, the relegation, I don't think the fans deserve it and most certainly Ann Budge deserves more.”

Ex-Hearts and Rangers ace Kyle Lafferty on his future as he has say on Tynecastle return