Darche: I want off to a flyer

Jul 20 2008 Gavin Berry In Germany

ROCKET Man Jean-Claude Darcheville insists he's ready for take off second time around at Rangers after feeling more like a damp squib last season.

The French striker reckons he shortchanged fans as injury ruined his debut year at Ibrox - but claims it's payback time now.

Darcheville, who turns 33 this month, knocked back the chance to return to his homeland this summer because he's desperate to show what he can do.

And the first point he wants to prove is he can be a 90-minute man after completing just one full match last season - the UEFA Cup Final defeat by Zenit St Petersburg.

The sight of Darcheville's number being held up and the player trudging off was all too familiar. But he is adamant there can be no question marks over his ability to go the distance now.

A summer Caribbean cruise gave him the relaxation he needed and Darche hopes a punishing pre-season schedule will provide the fitness platform.

Speaking from Gers' summer hideaway in De Lutte on the Dutch-German border he said: "Of course I have more 90 minutes in me - this isn't a problem.

"I know I can play game after game. The fans deserve the best at Rangers and from my first match I wanted to give them everything.

"But when I was coming to Glasgow my bag was lost at Amsterdam airport.

I still haven't seen it again. I lost special insoles for my Achilles and when I started training I got an injury.

"After that I had problems with my hamstring. When you have a knock sometimes it leads to another one.

"Now I go Paris to Edinburgh and get home from there as there's less chance of my bag going missing. Seriously, this preseason has been hard but that's good and it's so important.

"I played well at the end of the season. Last year I didn't have a pre-season but this time I am training every day and the problems are away.

"It was frustrating because I never played at 100 per cent last term but game after game I did better. In big matches I always played 50 or 60 per cent.

"I know I can do more and feel a bit bad about that. I like to stay positive though. Now I feel good and I think everybody can see my real level.

"It was frustrating for the fans, my partner and the coach because I knew I had a little problem when playing. I wanted to do more but couldn't.

"The club pay me to play well in every game so it's important to do well.

"But I didn't have this. Sometimes the manager took me off because he knew before that I had problems. He had to protect me so I could play again.

"I have a year left on my contract. I don't know if it will bemy last. For now I don't want to think about that. My first priority is showing the real me.

"I know if I play well I can have one or two more years here or at another club. I just want to do well."

Darcheville moved into Paul Le Guen's old house in Killearn when he joined Gers and the joke that it might have brought him bad luck at Ibrox raises a smile from the Frenchman.

But the thought of following the flop boss back to France was never on the agenda this summer.

Darche said: "My agent had contact from a team in France but I didn't come here to go straight back home.

"I told my agent I wanted to stay in Glasgow. We have a good atmosphere and a lot of fans come to our games. If you play for the smaller teams in France you don't have that level of support behind you.

"I'm 32 and want a great atmosphere all the time. I have this in Scotland.

"I'm a determined and proud person.

When I start something I want to finish it. If I go it will be with my head held high. This is important."

Even if he stays fit Darcheville might struggle to complete games with so many strikers now at the club.

Kyle Lafferty, Kenny Miller and Andrius Velicka arrived in the summer but Darche is up for the challenge.

He said: "It's important we get new players to give the team a lift.

"Nacho Novo is a good striker and so is Kris Boyd. Daniel Cousin and Kenny are also good but I have confidence in my ability. I look after myself and will fight for my place."

Darcheville netted 13 goals last term but prefers to focus on his work rate rather than his scoring ratio.

The hitman said: "Scoring can be easy if you are waiting inside the box.

"I can't do that. I wouldn't be happy if I scored twice and the team lost. When I watch the game afterwards I would just see my goals. I don't want that.

"I would prefer to score 15 goals and win the league with Rangers than score 30 and come second.

"I like doing the work, running the channels. Maybe if I play every game I can score more goals.

"I have a good relationship with the fans because they know I think about the team before myself.

"I watch every match in full the day after. When I came to Glasgow I didn't know my strike partner so it was important I saw every game again.

"I now know when I play with Nacho what balls he likes and when Barry Ferguson gives me his passes. That's important for me.

"Now when I play Celtic I know the defenders and it's the same with other teams in the league.

"I know the ones who try to kill me and what moves I can make.

"In Scotland it is physical and every game is 100 per cent.

"Sometimes when you play a team like Gretna you think it is easy.

"But it never is because whenever you get the ball someone is trying to **** you!"