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I'll win my jersey back from Sasa Papac, says Rangers' star Stevie Smith


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STEVIE SMITH was an emotional wreck as he watched his Rangers team-mates march all the way to Manchester and the UEFA Cup Final.

 

One one hand he was ecstatic - like every other Bluenose - as Walter Smith's side made it to their first European showpiece in 36 years.

 

But on the other he could only imagine what might have been after spending 14 months on the sidelines with serious groin and pelvic injuries.

 

Smith had looked on during his long spell out as Bosnian defender Sasa Papac took his place in the team and became a fans' favourite.

 

After becoming a first-team regular under Alex McLeish and Paul Le Guen, Stevie hasn't had the chance to impress current gaffer Smith.

 

That's why he knows this season could be pivotal in shaping the rest of his Rangers career.

 

The 22-year-old is now fully fit and has warned Papac he will face a fight to keep his light blue jersey.

 

But Smith admits if he fails to regain a starting slot he may have to quit the club next summer.

 

He told MailSport: "This season is massive. I'd say it's the biggest campaign of my career so far.

 

"I have a contract to 2010 but need to prove to people I'm fully fit. I have to be honest with myself and say if I don't play this season it could be time to move on.

 

"That's a huge incentive because I don't want to leave Rangers. But it's time to show I'm capable of playing every week in the first team again.

 

"It's crucial. I was fit for the last five months of last season but didn't play that often which was frustrating.

 

"I had missed so much football in 14 months and just wanted to play immediately.

 

"I thought I was ready right away but in hindsight I wasn't. Looking back it was better to have a settling-in period in the reserves before I came back.

 

"It was difficult but when you're out for that length of time you're just desperate to get back in the team.

 

"I need to make sure I'm ready to hit the ground running this season.

 

"Big Sasa took a bit of unfair stick when he first came into the team but has become an unsung hero to the fans.

 

"People said he wasn't a left-back but he played really well last season and it's going to be hard to get my place back.

 

"However, I have to believe in my own ability - the ability that got me in the team in the first place.

 

"When I'm fit I believe I'm good enough at that level. If I'm fit and don't play it might become a problem but the decision will be with the manager.

 

"I've heard people say I'm maybe a better option for home games - when we're attacking most of the time - and Sasa is better in Europe or away from home when the gaffer might be looking for more height and strength.

 

"But I'd like to think I can play in any game and in any environment.

 

"We have a massive squad and it's good to have variety but you want to play every week because it helps with consistency."

 

Smith broke into the Ibrox first team in 2005 under McLeish and remained a vital part of the side under flop boss Le Guen.

 

But after playing against Celtic in December 2006 he endured an injury nightmare. Visits to a Belgian specialist failed to cure the problem and many feared he might never play again.

 

However, after making his long-awaited comeback last season in the Scottish quarter-final with Partick Thistle at Firhill, Smith is hell-bent on proving he can return as the same exciting player.

 

He said: "I played in the quarter-final and semi-final of the Scottish Cup last term. But we had so many massive midweek games that it was hard for the manager to change a winning side.

 

"He didn't want to throw me in after 14 months out and I can totally understand the gaffer's thinking.

 

"I know I have a lot to prove in terms of fitness. It was weird last season because after being fit for four months fans were still asking: 'When are you back?' "But I never chapped the gaffer's door.

 

He spoke to me a few times and was understanding of my situation.

 

"I couldn't ask anything of him because I'd been out for a long time while his team was getting to a UEFA Cup Final.

 

"But hopefully this season is a fresh start for everybody at the club. I'm feeling good and strong now - better than I was at this time last season.

 

"A year ago I was in a Belgian gym working on my rehab. I missed all the new signings coming in to Murray Park and that was one of the worst parts.

 

"It has been great to be back among the boys this year with some new faces coming to the club.

 

"Everyone will wonder whether I can come back as the same player. I think I will and believe I'm even stronger.

 

"Not just physically but mentally too. I had people saying I might never play again and having to deal with that along with the rehab makes you stronger in the mind.

 

"I need a good pre-season under my belt and I'll be raring to go."

 

Stevie is hoping to play some part in Gers' crucial Champions League qualifier this month against either FBK Kaunas or Santa Coloma.

 

He knows the Ibrox side can't afford to underestimate the minnows but feels experienced squad members like Barry Ferguson and Davie Weir will help them get over the first Euro hurdle.

 

And Smith would love to relive his greatest moment in a light blue shirt - the clash with Spanish cracks Villarreal in the last 16 of the Champions League two years ago.

 

He said: "These Champions League qualifiers never seem to be easy, do they?

 

"They're never as simple as people think they're going to be.

 

"Especially when it's a team we don't know a lot about. There's huge pressure on Rangers at this stage because of what's at stake if you progress.

 

"But we've been involved in this situation before and it's great to have guys like Barry and Davie who use all their experience in these games.

 

"They help the younger boys through and we'll need that again.

 

"My biggest highlight as a Rangers player was going up against Villarreal in the last 16 of the Champions League.

 

"The big European games were what I missed most last season. Watching all the massive matches from the sidelines is the hardest thing.

 

"Especially when you know that if you were fit, you would be out there competing with the best."

 

I hope he does come back stronger and better but i would rather he produced the goods before shouting his mouth off.

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That's a really strange piece to read, particularly as it comes across to me that Smith has been back to what he reckons is match fitness for ages and sounds pissed off that he never got his place back. So does that mean that last season all the rumours about his career being over were just nonsense and actually he's been available for selection for a while?

 

Not sure why a 22 year old at the start of his career is shooting his mouth off like that though. How to win over your manager in one easy step...

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That's a really strange piece to read, particularly as it comes across to me that Smith has been back to what he reckons is match fitness for ages and sounds pissed off that he never got his place back. So does that mean that last season all the rumours about his career being over were just nonsense and actually he's been available for selection for a while?

 

Not sure why a 22 year old at the start of his career is shooting his mouth off like that though. How to win over your manager in one easy step...

 

Agree, it is a strange one. If SS was back to anything like the form he showed pre-injury, then with him and Papac we'd be sorted at LB.Hate to say this, but it's beginning to sound like WS has his favourites regardless of ability and if you displease him, you're out in the cold. Look at Gow and Buffel for further evidence. And if you say Gow and Buffel were out because of their lack of ability, then no one can say that about Smith.

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I see what you are saying but he says himself that in hindsight he wasn't ready so I dont see what the problem is. Every player wants to play in as many games as possible so it's only natural for him to say he was frustrated as he felt he was fit enough to play.

 

Putting that aside, I thought Papac was excellent last season and would not have deserved to have been dropped but SS was another player who should have got some game time against some of the lesser lights we faced in order to gain match fitness for the run in. As we know, the likes of Buffel, Gow, Webster et al didn't get any and it was a source of frustration for me. It must have been ten times worse for the players concerned.

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