KYLE LAFFERTY admits the new fitness regime Steven Gerrard has put in place at Rangers has left him feeling fitter than any time in the last six years.

The striker returned to Ibrox this summer as he completed a move from Hearts and has made nine appearances for the Light Blues so far this term.

Boss Gerrard has overhauled the Gers squad and raised standards on and off the park since being appointed and his side have made a solid start to the campaign.

And Lafferty reckons he is reaping the rewards as a result of the changes that have been implemented behind the scenes.

“It definitely feels like a more professional place now,” he told RangersTV. “Everything we do is so professional and thought through.

“When we qualified for the group stage of the Europa League and we were flying home from Russia I wasn’t allowed a cup of tea on the plane because we had the Old Firm game a couple of days later and I needed to sleep properly.

“They are looking at everything you eat and drink which is new to me because I have always been able to eat and drink whatever I wanted. Here it is properly professional now.

“I don’t think I have had a bar of chocolate in about three months! Chocolate and crisps were one of my big things at night.

“I came here, was put on a different regime and I feel so much fitter. I feel probably the fittest I have felt in five or six years.

“I have got my body fat down and I have lost four or five kilos. I feel fresh and I feel fitter.

“I think [I felt it against Villarreal]. On 87 minutes I was chasing back and I still felt fresh.

“If there was another ten minutes left to play in that game I would have got through it.

“These are the things you need to commit to and you get the rewards at the end of it.

“I am heading in the right direction and I feel good about it.”