DREAMS OF PLAYING EURO BEST MAKE MY HAIR STAND ON END

IT'S time to let readers into the secret of the Neanderthal look that has terrorised Scottish strikers for the last decade.

It has nothing to do with an aversion to the razor blade or barber's chair.

I'm simply trying to get as far away as possible from the image of a stage in my career that now seems a lifetime ago.

Rangers take on Villarreal in the Champions League tonight and I'll be wishing my former club well in their bid to make the last eight.

It is not only Alex McLeish's side who will see the benefits if they progress in Europe's best club competition. Other Scottish teams - hopefully including Hearts - will also see the advantages.

If our clubs have a couple of successful seasons in the UEFA Cup and Champions League we could have up to six representatives taking part in these competitions within a few years.

Amazingly, it is now more than 13 years since I played in the Champions League, making my European debut for Rangers when we famously drew 2-2 with Marseille at Ibrox.

I have great memories of that fantastic run of the 1992-93 season but admit I still cringe when I see those photos of an 18-year-old Steven Pressley with his pudding bowl haircut and spotty complexion.

Ian Durrant, never one to shy away from handing out nicknames, christened me Mr Logic after the character from the Viz comics and I must grudgingly admit there was an uncanny resemblance.

However much I try, I still can't escape and now and again an autograph hunter will send one of those early photos for me to sign.

Don't ask me how but they always seem to end up in the hands of my missus June for a good giggle. It was, thankfully, a couple of years later when she met her future husband.

I came on as a substitute for Richard Gough - who had a groin injury - against the French champions and it was a night I'll never forget.

They were packed with quality players - the best in the world, never mind Europe - including Alen Boksic, Rudi Voller, Abedi Pele, Marcel Desailly and Fabien Barthez.

Initially, it looked as if it would be 45 minutes to forget when I hesitated in front of Andy Goram and allowed Voller to put Marseille 2-0 up but Mark Hateley and Gary McSwegan scored to give Rangers one of their most famous European results.

Our comeback typified the spirit of Walter Smith's team and I was proud to be part of the squad that came so close to making the final.

The atmosphere at Ibrox was absolutely fantastic and it's why I'll tune in to the game and watch with part envy, part anticipation.

The Champions League is the pinnacle of club football in Europe and we've given ourselves the chance hopefully to sample it next season with Hearts.

I've experienced UEFA Cup football several times with the club and last season's group stages were as close as you could get to the Champions League itself for excitement.

We're in the hunt for one of the two places open to Scottish clubs and it is a wonderful go al to be chasing as we approach the last third of the SPL season.

I've been struggling with a virus this week but I'm hoping I'll be fit enough to face Parti ck Thistle in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.

I may have started the column in a light-hearted vein but I'd like to end it by sending out my support and sympathy to Hearts fans John and Deborah Strathie.

John and Deborah lost their six-year-old son Cameron to illness recently and were guests of the club for the game against Motherwell.

Their pain at the loss of Cameron threw everything else in life, including the ups and downs of football, into sharp perspective.

They have endured so much recently but their visit touched everyone in the Hearts dressing room. They know our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

Taken from the Daily Record