Having stepped out of the shadows at Rangers, Neil Alexander has no intention of reverting back to the bench.
Gers keeper wants regular role
Having stepped out of the shadows at Rangers, Neil Alexander has no intention of reverting back to the bench.
The keeper, so long a No.2 at Ibrox, is currently enjoying his moment in the spotlight as Allan McGregor pays the price for his misdemeanours while away on international duty with Scotland.
He is now hoping to keep his rival sidelined long-term as he looks to seize his opportunity with both hands.
Alexander knows all too well what it feels like to be dropped, having forced his way into the side earlier this season only to then find himself back out if again soon after.
Keen to ensure that situation does not repeat itself, the 31-year-old is now fully focused on giving his all during the Gers' remaining five games of the 2008/09 campaign.
"It has been very difficult being a No.2 if I'm being honest. You sit there, analyse every game and see the good, bad and ugly from the bench," Alexander told the club's
official website.
"Not being involved is hard and sometimes you wonder why you're here when you could be away playing somewhere else every week. I love it here, though, and Rangers are a fantastic football club.
Confidence
"At the moment, I'm just getting the head down and seeing what it brings and obviously, with Allan being out the team just now, I'm getting a chance.
"If I do well over the next few weeks, hopefully that will set me up nicely for next season and give me an opportunity to have an extended run in the side.
"I can understand why the manager put Allan back in the team a few months ago. He spoke to me about it when he made his decision and I appreciated that.
"He tried to protect me and while it was disappointing to come out of the team, I think he wanted me to step down on a high.
"I realise he wanted that rather than for me to go back to the bench on a low with the fans on my back after I'd made a mistake that had cost us or whatever.
"Because he did that, my confidence was still high in training every day and the supporters kept a good opinion of me. In that respect, I don't have too many problems with what happened. You clearly want to play and I'm no different to anyone else."
