RICHARD Foster has vowed to give Rangers manager Ally McCoist a major selection headache now that Sebastien Faure has returned to full fitness.

Faure was stretchered off and rushed to hospital for treatment during the SPFL League One match against Stenhousemuir at Ibrox last month.

An X-ray showed the versatile French defender had only sustained severe bruising to his foot and shin and had not suffered any broken bones.

However, the right-back-cum-centre-half missed the league match with Stranraer at Stair Park last week as a consequence of his injuries.

Foster, who had replaced him during the disappointing 3-3 draw with Stenhousemuir, took his place in the starting line-up in Wigtownshire.

The former Aberdeen and Bristol City player helped his side to keep a clean sheet in the hard-fought 2-0 victory against their third-placed rivals.

He retained his place in the side, even though Faure was available, against East Fife in Methil and contributed to another shut-out in a 1-0 win.

The 28-year-old had found himself out of the first team as a result of a lengthy spell he himself spent on the sidelines with an ankle injury last year.

But he is hoping he can give manager McCoist some food for thought now he has finally been handed a chance to stake a claim for regular inclusion in the team.

Foster said: "It has been a frustrating season for me because I have obviously not been as involved as I would have liked.

"I was unlucky in that I picked up an injury and dropped out of the team. Seb came in to replace me and has played extremely well for the team since then.

"But that is how this game goes. I have just had to be patient, work hard in training, wait for my chance and take it when it comes along.

"I have played a few games in recent weeks with suspensions and injuries and my aim is to play well and try and give the manager a headache over his selection.

"It has been difficult not being involved. But, as I say, I have no complaints as the man who was in the team ahead of me had been performing very well.

"If the team is winning games and doing well, as it has been doing, then the manager is not going to change things and break up a successful side.

"It would have been wrong for me to have been given the chance to play ahead of Seb given how well he was performing for the team on a weekly basis.

"But I am determined to show the manager what I am capable of whenever I am given a game and hopefully make it hard for him to leave me out."

Foster has played at a far higher level than the Scottish third tier - where all but two of the teams are part-time - during his professional career with Aberdeen, Bristol City and Rangers.

Indeed, during a year-long loan spell at Ibrox back in the 2010/11 season he played in the Champions League and the Europa League against the likes of Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon and Valencia. He also helped the club successfully fend off the challenge of their Old Firm rivals Celtic to win their third successive Scottish title under the then manager Walter Smith.

During his difficult time in the English Championship with struggling City last term he also came up against some of the biggest names in the British game.

But Foster had no qualms, none whatsoever, about dropping down to League One in order to ply his trade against minnows such as Arbroath, Brechin and Forfar.

He is excited about the prospect of helping Rangers win the league and also challenge for two cups. McCoist's men are still involved in the Ramsdens Cup and the William Hill Scottish Cup and can land an unprecedented treble if they are successful in them.

Foster said: "That is what we are all in football to do, win trophies and medals. We have the opportunity to do exactly that in the remaining weeks of the season.

"I am hopeful that I can be involved in the games that we have coming up in both the league and the cup competitions. I want to play in every match we have.

"Despite not being involved in the team a great deal in recent weeks, I am really enjoying being back at Rangers.

"The facilities which we have at Murray Park are second to none and it is an absolute pleasure to come into training every day with the boys. I am really happy here.

"It is a long, hard season and we have a lot of games to play during it. I appreciate that the manager needs a big squad of players to cope with that.

"I am happy to help in whatever way I can and am sure that I will get a chance again between now and the end of the season.

"As I say, with any luck I can give him a bit of a headache."