Beasley: Out of trouble into treble

Aug 10 2008 By Mark Guidi

DAMARCUS BEASLEY insists the only way Rangers can bounce back from their Champions League humiliation is by winning a domestic treble.

The American winger was injured for the Kaunas catastrophe but is back in training and in contention for Saturday's game with Hearts.

And with Euro action now off the agenda the 26-year-old is sure Gers will be even more determined to lift every domestic honour.

Beasley, who was Man of the Match in Rangers' memorable 3-0 Champions League win over Lyon last season, said: "I watched the Kaunas game in the house and it's natural to think you might have been able to help the team by scoring a goal or creating a chance.

"Playing in Europe is a highlight for any player and we will miss it. But there is nothing we can do about it now.

"The SPL is the most important thing to us and we have to look at winning the treble.

"I'm an optimist and believe we can do it.

We know what needs to be done to win it and we must show the right attitude in every game.

"We will face tough matches in the SPL and will lose a few but Celtic will have their hiccups too so we must ensure we slip up less than them.

"We can also learn from last season when we had the title in the bag and threw it away."

As well as missing out on the title Gers also lost in the UEFA Cup Final and Beasley was gutted he had to sit out Manchester.

He was expected to be out for the season after injuring his knee in November but came back ahead of schedule and could have lined up against Zenit St Petersburg in May.

But Beasley - who was crocked in the game against Stuttgart in the Champions League - was not registered in the UEFA Cup squad of 25 which meant he had to miss out.

He said: "I wanted to play in the final but the gaffer thought I wouldn't be fit in time and didn't name me in the squad list.

"I played in the Champions League and believed I was registered for the season but didn't realise I had to be re-registered for the UEFA Cup. It's an unfair rule that should be changed."

Beasley (right) has been hampered by injury since he moved to Ibrox from PSV Eindhoven 12 months ago in a £900,000 deal.

He now hopes to get a free run and said: "God willing, I'll be able to play most of the games this season as I've had more than my share of injuries.

"I want to show why the club bought me. I enjoy playing in a wide area where I can get at defenders, take them on and create chances. That's a big part of my game, making things happen.

"Hopefully I'll be involved against Hearts and can kick on from there.

"I played in the summer for the USA and feel fresh and I'm ready to offer good things to Rangers.

"I want the fans to see the best of me. It's been a tough week for them and I've never known a reaction like it to the Kaunas defeat. Now it's up to the players to pay them back."