(Left to right) Ash Taylor, Danny Armstrong and Rory McKenzie with the League Cup trophy during a Kilmarnock press conference (Picture: Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes says Kyle Lafferty has ‘been doing star jumps’ outside his office in a desperate attempt to be involved in Saturday’s League Cup semi-final against Celtic following his ten-game ban.

The Rugby Park striker, 35, was handed a lengthy suspension in October by the Scottish FA after being caught using sectarian language on video. The Northern Ireland international is available again for the match at Hampden Park on Saturday, where the winners will play either Rangers or Aberdeen in the final.

McInnes joked that Lafferty ‘was doing star jumps outside my office this morning and brought me breakfast’ as he welcomed the big forward back into the squad.

McInnes, who revealed striker Innes Cameron had a hamstring operation, said: ‘I know how much he wants to play, the same as all my players want to.

‘It has been torture for him missing out. ‘Any player can deal with injuries, if you are missing four, five, six months with injury. Kyle has not been injured, he is fit and running about and training.

‘He’s been so supportive. He has been at every game, except Celtic Park on Saturday, supporting the team and he has had a big role to play in and around the dressing room.

Kyle Lafferty wants to be part of the League Cup semi-final game (Picture: Jeff Holmes JSHPIX/Shutterstock)

‘We just need him between now and the end of the season to play a big role.

‘Having him back is great for me, I have always leaned heavily on him and having that big-game player is something any manager would turn to.’

Killie lost 2-0 to Celtic in the Premiership at Parkhead on Saturday but McInnes wants his players to focus only on providing a cup shock.

‘I told the players on Saturday that we need to bounce back into work on Monday and try to enjoy the week,’ said the former Aberdeen boss, who would be ‘surprised’ if there were any additions to his squad before the weekend.