Rangers Star's Year Of Hell

Feb 3 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

Steven Smith On Fightback From Injury Hel Hibs V Rangers Today, Kick-Off 12.30 Live Sky Sports 2

STEVEN SMITH has revealed by far the toughest part of his 14-month injury hell was not being able to tell Rangers fans when he'd be back in blue.

The young Ibrox left-back has finally declared himself fit for the SPL title run-in after being sidelined for more than a year with groin and hernia problems.

Before Smith was crocked he was developing into one of the best backs in the country and being tipped for a Scotland call-up.

But he hasn't kicked a ball in anger since December 2006 and the 22-year-old has revealed the torture he has gone through to get back in Walter Smith's squad.

After two ops plus visits to specialists in Belgium, Denmark and Germany, Steven is now three weeks away from a top-team return.

But aside from the demanding rehab programme he says it was not knowing when he'd actually get fit again that frustrated him most.

Smith said: "The support from the fans has been incredible. That was probably the most difficult thing-they would write and ask when I'd be back and I couldn't tell them for sure.

"I didn't want to say four weeks in case that didn't happen.

"I couldn't commit so they've shown tremendous faith and I want to reward them when I get back - I know they're desperate to see me in a Rangers shirt again.

"At Murray Park I didn't get too down but it's hard when you're stuck at home watching games on TV. I've felt like an outsider looking in and didn't feel part of things.

"When the boys were travelling for big games in Europe that was really hard to take.

"All the Champions League games were massive and toughest to watch because as a kid you dream about playing in them.

"I missed out this time but hope to do it in the future. I feel good and think I've finally put the injury behind me.

"I've been training for a month and had a couple of games. I just want back into the manager's plans.

"I haven't played a match under Walter yet so need to prove myself to him. I'm lucky he used to be the Scotland manager and watched a lot of games I played for Rangers.

"He knows what I can do but after 14 months out I need to show him I can be the same player I used to be. People said left-backs would be coming in but it hasn't happened.

"I believe in my ability and even if Rangers had signed one I'd still be good enough to challenge.

"I can do a job in that position and feel I'm getting toward full-time fitness. There's still a big question mark, whether I can be the same player I was before.

"It will take time and even in training you hit a point when you struggle and realise just how much fitter the other boys are.

"But I'm willing to dig deep and get through it."

Smith has fought back to prove wrong to people who doubted he'd ever play again. It has been a long, arduous road to recovery for the Scotland Under-21 star but he's praying an operation in Germany three months ago has finally cured the problem.

Steven said: "I've always had the light at the end of the tunnel of a first-team return so that kept me going. When I was younger just to get back training after an injury was a bonus.

"The big thing now is knowing if I get back fit I can be a Rangers player again. It's great to know I'm capable of playing in front of 50,000 at Ibrox once more.

"Under Paul Le Guen I played for a month with a back problem picked up against Auxerre in the UEFA Cup. I shouldn't have done that and it sent a few other things wrong in different areas."

Steven's last outing was against Celtic in December 2006 in a 1-1 Ibrox draw. He said: "It was so hard during pre-season this term. The boys were in training while I was working with specialists in Belgium.

"I came back to training but kept breaking down. That was a tough spell and I had to work hard to recover and get to where I am now.

"I had one op but after just a day's training woke up the next morning and felt terrible. I was back to square one. There was a lot of scar tissue and a trapped nerve. After visiting more specialists they sent me to a woman doctor in Germany.

"She operated again 11 weeks ago and turned things round, that's why I'm where I'm at today. She seemed to release that nerve and hopefully that's me back for good.

"I've been pain-free since then.

"When I first started training I was a bit apprehensive. The boss told me not to fly into tackles but that only lasted about three days!"

Gers' gaffer Smith expects Steven to be available for selection in three weeks which means he could be in contention for a place in the CIS Cup Final on March 16.

Steven admits it's a fantastic time to return to the first-team squad with Rangers challenging for the championship and still battling in three cup competitions.

He said: "I think I'm ready now.

"But the manager doesn't want to rush me and has more experience than I have. In saying that I'd still play on Sunday against Hibs if he asked me.

"The CIS final is a genuine target for me. I'd hope to be back before then but the team are on form and Walter might not want to change a winning side.

"When I played last season the club was going through a bad spell but the new manager has turned everything round. It's a great time to be coming back and all the boys are looking forward to the run-in."