"Fortunately Davie Weir found me and credit to Kenny and Nacho because they both burst a gut to get into the box and it gave me a target.

"It was just a case of putting the ball in there and hoping that one of them got on the end of it and Kenny did and it won us the Cup.

"It was fantastic to come on and make a contribution because in the last month I have not really been involved and that has been difficult.

"As a player you always want to be involved and hopefully I showed on Sunday that I can bring something to the team and it will stand me in good stead for the remaining matches.

"There could be a chance for me to come into the starting line-up against Dundee United and I hope that's the case.

"The thing is you need to be at your best all the time at Rangers, whether it is in training or in the matches so I know that it's all about hard work.

"When everyone is fit and available there are going to be some unhappy players so you have to take your chance when you get it."

Naismith knows that there is a heavy schedule of matches lying in front of Rangers starting with the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Tannadice followed by tough SPL trips to Tynecastle and McDiarmid Park.

However, he feels that everyone in the squad has extra belief that they can go on and achieve more success after the events at Hampden.

He said: "Winning on Sunday has given us a great psychological boost going into the remaining games.

"We know we didn't play well but I felt the grit, the determination and the way we defended was first class - and that goes for everyone.

"That's down to the fact that the manager has built a team in the last two or three years that hasn't really changed much so everyone knows how each other plays."

STEVIE NAISMITH finally became a key protagonist in a major cup success for Rangers last Sunday and now he hopes to play a leading role in the charge for more glory.

The former Kilmarnock star had not had the best of fortune at the national stadium since switching to the Light Blues.

But last Sunday it was hiStevie Naismith celebrates the League Cup successs pace and precision which set up the chance for Kenny Miller to claim a stunning victory over St Mirren in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final.

When Naismith joined Rangers in 2007 he was ineligible for the League Cup having played for Killie at Peterhead and therefore missed out on the final that season when Dundee United were beaten on penalties.

He then suffered a dreadful knee injury in the Scottish Cup semi-final that season against St Johnstone which kept him out for eight months.

Naismith was a peripheral character when he got the last five minutes in last season's Scottish Cup Final win over Falkirk.

And having been right out of the picture in recent weeks, it was perhaps a surprise to some that he made the bench at Hampden last Sunday.

However, with 11 minutes remaining and Rangers seemingly in dire straits he was introduced and within four minutes he set up a remarkable victory.

He said: "The instructions were to go on and kept things tight and maybe try to get something on the break.

"Fortunately Davie Weir found me and credit to Kenny and Nacho because they both burst a gut to get into the box and it gave me a target.

"It was just a case of putting the ball in there and hoping that one of them got on the end of it and Kenny did and it won us the Cup.

"It was fantastic to come on and make a contribution because in the last month I have not really been involved and that has been difficult.

"As a player you always want to be involved and hopefully I showed on Sunday that I can bring something to the team and it will stand me in good stead for the remaining matches.

"There could be a chance for me to come into the starting line-up against Dundee United and I hope that's the case.

"The thing is you need to be at your best all the time at Rangers, whether it is in training or in the matches so I know that it's all about hard work.

"When everyone is fit and available there are going to be some unhappy players so you have to take your chance when you get it."

Naismith knows that there is a heavy schedule of matches lying in front of Rangers starting with the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Tannadice followed by tough SPL trips to Tynecastle and McDiarmid Park.

However, he feels that everyone in the squad has extra belief that they can go on and achieve more success after the events at Hampden.

He said: "Winning on Sunday has given us a great psychological boost going into the remaining games.

"We know we didn't play well but I felt the grit, the determination and the way we defended was first class - and that goes for everyone.

"That's down to the fact that the manager has built a team in the last two or three years that hasn't really changed much so everyone knows how each other plays."