Steven Smith admitted that lifting a trophy with Rangers this season would go some way to easing the pain of the last 16 months.

The 22-year-old defender made his long-awaited comeback in Rangers' Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle and finally putting his injury hell behind him.

Smith had not featured for the first team since the 1-1 draw with Celtic back in December 2006 after being plagued by a series of pelvic problems.

Now that he has taken the first step towards resurrecting his career at Ibrox, he now has his sights set on picking up his first winner's medal.

The CIS Insurance Cup was won in his absence last month but, as well as progressing to the last four of the Scottish Cup, Rangers are also in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and sitting at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table.

"When you grow up at Rangers, the thing that's drilled into you is winning medals," Smith said.

"We haven't done so for a number of years and it's not been good enough.

"With the players we've got and Barry Ferguson and the management team, who are used to winning things, driving us on it can only help us.

"There are a lot of difficult games in front of us, even in the Scottish Cup.

"I remember playing St Johnstone when they turned us over at Ibrox so it's not going to be easy getting any of these trophies. We just need to keep winning football matches."

Smith confirmed the prospect of pulling on the light blue jersey once again was what kept him going through his darkest days.

"It's been difficult - nobody understands just how difficult it is until you are in that position," Smith said.

"The light at the end of the tunnel was playing for Rangers again, pulling on that jersey and running out in front of the fans.

"I just want to prove to them that I'm still the same player I was before I got injured."

On the speculation that his injury could be career-threatening and prevent him from playing at the top level again, Smith added: "I've never listened to people like that - that's people being negative.

"I've always a great medical team behind me and good support from family and people around me so I never let the negative things get to me.

"Nobody really knew what the main problem was but, once the problem was solved, I've never looked back.

"I've been fit for a number of months now and playing reserve football. It's just great to be back playing first team football."

Goals from Nacho Novo and Chris Burke set up a semi-final meeting with St Johnstone and ensured a successful return to action for Smith.

But it was a day to forget for Simon Donnelly, who squandered several chances and missed a penalty for Thistle early in the second half.

Donnelly said: "Rangers have proved that they are hard to beat over the season and also against some good quality European clubs.

"But I thought we had a good chance and maybe it we had taken some of our chances it might have been different."

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