AS a striker, Nicky Clark will be judged on the chances he converts and the opportunities he makes the most of. They have been hard to come by recently, but now he is back in a position to take them.

Clark has not played for Rangers since the 5-0 League Cup win over Airdrieonians in August, the night when he scored his second goal of the campaign after opening his account at Ayr the previous week.

In his absence, he has seen Mark Warburton’s side, and Martyn Waghorn in particular, hit the goal trail as the Light Blues have continued their superb start to the season.

The satisfaction at seeing his team-mates reel off results has been dampened by a personal disappointment and frustration for Clark as he has been unable to play his part.

Having returned from injury, he is now in a position to challenge for a place in Warburton’s squad once again for the visit of Falkirk this afternoon.

Getting himself back into the starting line-up could prove a more difficult challenge, but it is one the 24-year-old is relishing after a spell on the sidelines.

Clark said: “I had partial fasciitis in my foot. It was after the Airdrie game, I think it might have been the plastic pitch.

“I don’t even know how I got it, it’s a tendon injury, but I’m back now and that’s the main thing.

“It was very frustrating. I didn’t think it was anything too serious at the time and then before you know it I was out for three-and-a-half weeks and missed four games.

“I am back training with the boys now. It’s still good the boys have been going on, scoring goals and winning well.

“The gaffer has said the squad he has is the squad he wants to be involved and he gives everyone their chance, rotating the squad quite a lot and that’s great.”

The task of displacing Waghorn, who hit a hat-trick against Morton last weekend and has 14 goals from 13 games, may, for some observers, seem like mission impossible for Clark.

But the striker can take comfort from the Warburton blue print as he looks to make his mark and play his part for the Gers this term.

Of the 45 goals Rangers have scored this season, none have come from a header as the free-flowing attack have cut their way through teams with the ball on the deck.

It is a style the Ibrox crowd have bought into, and one Clark is confident he can thrive in.

He said: “I didn’t know that [we haven’t scored a header yet]. It shows you we’re playing everything to feet and it’s brilliant to be involved in.

“You can see everyone is enjoying it, the way we’re playing and everyone wants to pick up the ball and become involved in it.

“To be honest, he has done it since day one when he first arrived so it is bred into us now, we all know what the gaffer wants.

“I don’t think we can’t kick it long - if it’s on to kick it long we can do it.

"But the way we want to play is to get the ball down, pass it and move other teams around and we’re doing it really well just now.”

The last few weeks may have been frustrating for Clark but they have been extremely productive for Waghorn as he has enjoyed a superb start to the season.

Clark ended the 2012/13 campaign with 38 goals to his credit as he fired Queen of the South to the Second Division title.

And he is pleased to see his strike partner find the scoring groove so soon after making the move to Ibrox from Wigan Athletic.

Clark said: “Waggy is doing brilliantly, it’s not just his goals but his overall performances have been great for the team.

“It’s a hard position he plays, but he’s been doing great.

“As a striker it’s goals you rely on and he has been doing great recently. I’m delighted for him.

“He’s a confident lad, which comes from goals and hopefully he goes on and bags a few goals on Saturday.

“There’s no better feeling than the feeling you’re going to score in every single game and I’m sure Waggy has got that just now.

“Hopefully he does it on Saturday and if I get a chance soon I’ll be able to do it as well.”

If Clark can get himself back in Warburton’s squad this afternoon, it will mark an important step in his campaign and, he hopes, give him a springboard for future involvement.

He will have to wait a fortnight for another chance to get back on the pitch, though, after Warburton chose to postpone the Petrofac Training Cup tie with Livingston on Friday due to international call-ups for Gedion Zelalem, Nathan Oduwa and Fraser Aird.

Clark said: “You want to play football and be involved but we have a lot of boys away and it’s boys who have been doing really well for us so I don’t think it would have been right had we gone to play the game with boys missing. It would have been great after injury to get some game time.”

*Supporters can take advantage of a 25% off season ticket offer with prices starting from as little as £197* for adults, £157* concessions and £39* for kids in the Club Deck and Family Section.

Tickets are valid from the Rangers v Falkirk game at Ibrox on Saturday, October 3, and are available online at www.rangers.co.uk, calling the Ticket Hotline on 0871 702 1972* or visiting the Rangers Ticket Centre.