STEVIE SMITH was once regarded as a permanent fixture of Rangers' rearguard for years to come.

The answer to a problematic defensive problem for Scotland and a young player with one of the most promising futures in the Scottish game ahead of him.

That was before the slings and arrows of misfortune and a catalogue of debilitating injuries undermined progress and stifled a development which promised to deliver one of the best counter-attacking full-backs the Scottish game had seen in recent years.

But during the frustration that blighted the end of his first spell with Rangers, which came to a premature stop in 2010, the young defender enjoyed a constant source of encouragement and optimism from the very man who has now offered him the chance to complete his "unfinished business" with the team he has always loved.

For it was in his role as assistant manager to Walter Smith that Ally McCoist would offer his support, all too aware of the quality the young Smith possessed.

Twenty seven, injury free and refreshed from a spell with Portland Timbers in the MLS, Smith returned to Murray Park at the end of last season where he convinced McCoist, now the Rangers manager, that he was ready for the challenge of becoming a key player at Ibrox once more.

He said: "I am really looking forward to playing under Ally.

"When I was here the first time and Ally was assistant to Walter Smith, he was a really big help to me and someone who offered encouragement when things were not going as I hoped.

"But he was great with all of the players and he always had time for you, a word of encouragement and was just so upbeat with his words.

"I always really appreciated that. When he asked me to come back in and train with the squad at the end of last season, I hoped I could do enough to show him I could make a contribution.

"Since the end of the season Ally has been great with me and stayed in touch on the phone, even when he was on holiday in the USA.

"That has been a great source of encouragement because until you actually sign with Rangers there is always a part of you that doubts it will happen.

"But now it has I'm keen to repay the manager for his faith in me this time round and for all his help and encouragement during my first spell with Rangers.

"It is all about looking forward for me now and that is all down to Ally. I will not let him down."

It seems amazing Smith signed his first professional contract with Rangers way back in June 2002.

After progressing through John Brown's Ibrox reserve team, he made his first team debut against Hearts back in November 2004 as a half-time substitute for Maurice Ross.

But despite playing a further three times that season, it was the winter of 2005 before he established himself as a first-team starter.

He went on to make 20 appearances that campaign including his Champions League debut in a tie against Villarreal on February 22, 2006.

Smith also penned a two-year contract extension less than a week later under Alex McLeish.

While Paul Le Guen got many things wrong at Gers, one of the few correct decisions he made during his disastrous spell in charge was to keep faith in Smith and a further contract extension came the left-back's way in October 2006.

It was then that injury first started to undermined the Scot's impressive progress.

During the winter of 2006, the defender was troubled by a recurring pelvic injury which would eventually sideline him for over a year.

Almost 12 months after his last appearance in a December Old Firm game of 2006, Smith bounced back from a successful hernia operation.

However, he did not return to the red, white and light blue until a Scottish Cup replay against Partick Thistle in April 2008, over 16 months after his last appearance.

But further injuries in the summer of 2008 ruled him out of action until November and saw Smith search for first-team game time with Cardiff City in March 2009.

While the full-back was to return to Rangers again, and win a 2009/10 Scottish League Cup final winner's medal against St Mirren, the exit beckoned.

After spells at Norwich, Aberdeen and Preston, Smith plied his trade in the MLS with Portland until December.

And he attributes his spell across the pond as crucial in helping him persuade McCoist that he is ready to reclaim his status as Rangers' No.1 left-back.

Smith said: "I played virtually every game for Portland and most of them were in very humid conditions.

"I feel that my fitness and conditioning benefited hugely from my spell there.

"Like I say, I am only looking forward now but I am determined to make up for lost time."