Buffel makes Euro plea to Smith April 24 2008
Thomas Buffel has urged manager Walter Smith to give him a shot at European glory after a surprise return to action for Rangers.
The Belgian midfielder was thrown into Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Johnstone after only 11 minutes when Chris Burke was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury.
It was Buffel's first involvement since the 6-0 win over East Stirling in the same competition back in January and only his fourth appearance of the season.
The 27-year-old has struggled to force his way back into the first team after recovering from injury and relished every second of the cup clash, which was eventually decided by a tense penalty shoot-out.
Buffel is now desperate to play a belated role in the Gers' successful European campaign when Fiorentina come calling in the first leg of the UEFA Cup semi-finals on Thursday night.
He said: "It has been a while since I played a game, but I have the semi-final in my legs now and I can be even better in the coming games - if the coach will allow me.
"I didn't really expect it. All I did during training was to make sure I was fit. I could have said 'I'm not going to get a chance any more' and just left it at that. But that's not me.
"I would never have forgiven myself if I hadn't been fit when given the opportunity and not done well."
Smith has favoured a 4-5-1 formation in European matches and Buffel believes such a system is ideal for an attacking midfielder like himself.
"It's an advantage, as he can use me in different positions - as one off the striker or on the left or right sides.
"This is the furthest I have gone in the UEFA Cup, but I played Champions League football with Feyenoord and I have played in the last 16. I have some experience of that - and it's good for a coach to have options like that if he has some players out.
"He has the option and I know what it's like to be there and what to do."
If given the nod, Buffel insists he would not use the clash with the Italians as a shop window to showcase his talents, claiming he has yet to consider his future beyond the current campaign.
"I don't want to think about that right now," he said. "It's just good that I am playing a little bit of football and we will see what happens in the coming weeks.
"If I do play in that game, I will not be trying to sell myself. It will just be great to be back and to show the Rangers fans what I can do - and hopefully they can enjoy it."