ANDY WEBSTER returned to Rangers from a loan season at Dundee Utd with a Scottish Cup winner's medal after a real return to form.

His switch to Tannadice for the 2009/10 season proved to be a success for all parties.

He captained United to the Scottish Cup and a third placed SPL finish, while racking up over 30 appearances for the Arabs.

That was a welcome boost for a player who had amassed fewer than a third as many matches in the three seasons prior to his move to Tayside.

His form also led to an international recall under new Scotland boss Craig Levein and put him back on the path to being the player who left Hearts in 2006.

Webster began his career as a centre half at Arbroath before moving to Hearts in March 2001.

He spent five years at Tynecastle and made more than 150 appearances before a disagreement with club owner Vladimir Romanov saw him frozen out of the Hearts side.

Webster went on to make football transfer history when he was the first to invoke a loophole in a FIFA-adopted EU law, enabling him to cancel his contract with Hearts in the third year of a four year deal with the proviso that he join a club in a foreign country and that sufficient notice be given to his former employers.

His transfer to Wigan was ratified by FIFA in September 2006 and he made his debut in a 4-0 win over Manchester City the following month.

After three further Premiership appearances, Webster took the chance to get much-needed match experience by agreeing on a loan move to Rangers in January 2007.

An injury, however, sustained in his first training session meant he wouldn't make a competitive appearance for the Light Blues in season 2006/07, having to wait until the post-season match against LA Galaxy to make his debut.

He then had further injury problems which limited him to one appearance against Gretna, in which he scored.

But after a string of injury issues boss Walter Smith felt it was better for the centre back to go out and get regular football in a bid to return to his normal level after two difficult years.

A spell with Bristol City aided that bid before Webster returned to Murray Park where he enjoyed a regular role in Tommy Wilson's reserve side.

However it was the switch to Tannadice under Levein that restored Webster's form, fitness and confidence and saw him back at Ibrox ahead of the 2010/11 season ready to fight for a place in Smith's side.