Kyle Lafferty drops a hint over his next move after leaving Sunderland

The former Sunderland striker was speaking to the Open Goal Podcast with Si Ferry, where he reflected on his career north of the border.

And with his time at the Stadium of Light having come to an end after the League One campaign was curtailed, the topic of Lafferty’s next move was naturally on the agenda.

While the 32-year-old has nothing lined-up at present, he heavily hinted that a return overseas could be on the agenda – having previously played for Palermo in Italy, Sion in Switzerland and Sarpsborg in Norway.

When asked about his future, Lafferty said: “I don’t know.

“My missus is due again in the next couple of weeks - her waters could have broken now in the kitchen, I don’t know!

“It’s one of those things, do I hold off and see what happens?

“But I love going abroad. It’s everything that comes with it - training in the afternoon, having coffee in the sun, it’s a different feeling.

“I think my game suits playing abroad.”

But there is one former club for whom Lafferty would surrender his overseas dream.

“I’d go back to Hearts,” he admitted.

“It’s an amazing club and it’s amazing people who own it.

“Obviously what’s happened to them now with the relegation, I don’t think the fans deserve it and certainly Ann Budge [chief executive] deserves more.”