Rangers, complete with Alan Gow, arrived in Los Angeles yesterday for some rest and relaxation disguised as an end-of-season glamour friendly against LA Galaxy. There was no such Hollywood holiday for Thomas Buffel.

In an exclusive interview with The Herald, he expressed his determination to salvage his Rangers career and play a part in a renewed title challenge against Celtic next season. "I am ahead of schedule.

In fact, the surgeon said he wished everyone could recover as quickly as I have," he said from his home in Belgium. "The first thing is to get fit, after that, where my career will go is not up to me. I feel I can still make an impact and maybe have still to make an impact.

"I feel I started my career well here and have had some good spells, but I want to be a regular again and think I can. From there, I can make myself a name at this club."
Buffel flew home on Friday having returned to light training at Murray Park.

He will continue his intensive recovery programme while his team-mates enjoy their summer holidays, but remains optimistic Rangers will be the beneficiaries of his new-found fitness, despite speculation persisting that he will be sold off as part of the extensive restructuring plans.
The Hannover offer arrived at a time when Smith sought to reinforce a defence that haemorrhaged goals. Now, with Ugo Ehiogu signed, David Weir committed for another year, Andy Webster close to securing a permanent deal and Carlos Cueller, the Osasuna defender, identified as a long-term pillar, Buffel hopes the circumstances have changed sufficiently for him to prove himself to a third manager since his 2.

3m signing from Feyenoord in January, 2005.
"Hannover made a very attractive offer and the Bundesliga is a top league, but once I knew I wanted to be fit there was no decision to make," he explained. "My mind was already made up, I never really thought seriously about going.

Of course, I feel there is unfinished business here. When I am totally fit, I feel I can do even better and be able to control matches again and be a regular.
"Obviously in football, finance is important and I think the money Hannover offered for an unfit player was tempting to a new manager who needed to sort out his defence.

Now that has been addressed, maybe things have changed."

I will not have a summer holiday because that would make all the hard work pointless

Buffel has had a discussion with the manager about his future plans and has been encouraged by Smith's response. "I had a positive discussion with the manager," he said.

"He told me to get myself match fit and we would take it from there, so that aspect is up to me. He also told me he saw what I could do in the early part of my career and knows what I am capable of. I need to get back to that.

I will not have a summer holiday because that would make all the hard work pointless."
Buffel began the season as a centrepiece of the Paul Le Guen era. A series of elegant performances, though, were undermined by a wastefulness in front of goal.

Gradually, the confidence ebbed from the team, and it was not long before the new regime was engulfed in crisis.
He has since been an outsider looking in, helpless to play his part in the revival that ensured the capture of second place in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague and the resultant Champions League qualification place. Buffel, though, recounts his last experience of the season to affirm that in the eyes of the supporters, he has not become the forgotten man.

"Of course I think I can stay," he said. "I was at the last game of the season against Kilmarnock at Ibrox and it took me an hour to get to my car - that shows the fans still remember me and know what I can bring to the team. They kept asking me if I was staying and that made me feel good because I would like to.

"I never thought about the frustration of not being a part of it. I know if I get myself fit I can play at a level and think I have shown in the early part of my Rangers career what I can contribute. If you have three managers in as short period of time, it shows things have not been too successful but really, Alex was here for a long time and it is really only two managers in a short spell.

"I did not have any problem with Paul. In fact, everything started well for me there but we seemed to get clawed back in too many games. Things spiralled from there and we lost our grip in the SPL.

"
After the acrimony of new year, in which Barry Ferguson was stripped of the captaincy, only for Le Guen to leave and Ferguson be reinstated during a week of accusation and recrimination, Buffel commended Smith's ability in restoring harmony to the dressing room.
"There has been a lot of changes to the coaching and playing staff but it has stabilised the club," he said. "We are stronger at the back and more physically equipped to cope with the SPL.

We have a tight midfield and can build on the success of the last six months. The manager, Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall have made it a joyful place to be again."
Buffel hopes to be a contributor to any future happiness.

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