COMEBACK star Kevin Thomson reckons Rangers face the toughest test of their European adventure when they take on Fiorentina.

But the midfielder, back after missing both of the Old Firm games and the Uefa Cup semi-final first leg with the Italian giants, still thinks Gers can win it.

Thomson rapped: "We have played 17 games in Europe so far, which I find quite remarkable when you consider the quality sides we have come up against in those matches.

"This is going to be as difficult as it has been in each of the other rounds when we go there if not more so.

"A lot of the sides we have played have been fantastic, but we have managed to handle that.

"We know, though, that we will need to produce a performance in Italy like we had on our travels in the last round to have an opportunity to make the final.

"When you get to this stage of a European competition you are going to come up against a good team.

"We will give Fiorentina the utmost respect. But, at the end of the day, it is still 11 players against 11 players.

"Your calibre and history goes out of the window when you start a new game and if we show the same desire we have been showing it will stand us in good stead."

Thomson is itching to play against the Serie A cracks after having to sit out three of the Ibrox club's biggest matches of the season. Speaking in the Rangers News, he groaned: "It was really frustrating to sit out the two Celtic games and last week's match with Fiorentina because of my suspension.

"My league and European bans came at the one time and with us doing well in the cup competitions, too, that has meant I've missed some big matches.

"It will be a massive game for us against Fiorentina. Let's face it, every outing we have at the moment, domestically and in Europe, is massive.

"It's an old cliche, but every game that we play in these days is a cup final. We are approaching them accordingly."