AFTER months of intense speculation Novo finally joined the Light Blues for the start of pre-season training in 2004, a few days after rejecting Celtic's advances.

And although Nacho is a small in stature - Alex McLeish joked he could 'walk under a bed wearing a top hat' at his signing press-conference - the former Raith Rovers livewire has become a big hit with supporters.

The speedy forward was McLeish's sixth summer capture - hot on the heels of Dado Prso, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Alex Rae, Dragan Mladenovic and Marvin Andrews - and has grabbed his Ibrox chance with both hands.

The Ferrol-born hitman, put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the club, and enjoyed a superb debut campaign - netting 25 goals in 49 appearances.

Adapting to life at Ibrox wasn't a problem for the Spaniard after developed a good understanding of the Scottish game in three years prior to his dream move.

In 2001 the striker was given his chance to impress when Raith Rovers brought him over from SD Huesca and Novo didn't disappoint, scoring 19 goals in 36 games.

In fact his form was so impressive that after only one season at Stark's Park Dundee snapped him up for a nominal fee.

There he obviously made his mark bagging six goals in his first campaign in the SPL and then 26 the following term.

Novo admitted he still had a lot to learn when he signed for Rangers but he grabbed a goal at Hibs in May 2005 that helped secure the club's 51st league championship.

Nacho's partnership with Dado Prso was one of the highlights of the 2004/05 double winning campaign and although his goals dried up at the back end of the season, he still contributed with a number of key assists playing on the right wing.

The 2005/06 season was a frustrating one for the Spaniard as he struggled to secure a place in the starting eleven and it looked at one point as if his Rangers career would be coming to an end when Coventry City tabled a bid for him in August 2006.

Instead, Novo chose to stay at Ibrox and flourished under Paul Le Guen, scoring vital goals against Livorno, St Mirren, Maccabi Haifa and Hearts. He was less prolific in the second half of the season although was again often used wide on the right flank.

He entered the 2007/08 in the last year of his contract but did more than enough to earn himself a new deal, which he signed in December 2007.

Despite often starting on the bench Novo was a scorer of vital goals in a remarkable season.

His late, late strike against Red Star Belgrade effectively sealed the club's place in the Champions League and when they dropped out of that competition in to the UEFA Cup he scored another crucial goal in Athens to see Rangers in to the last 16.

And despite a brace against Celtic in a 3-0 win, an equaliser at Parkhead in a 2-1 defeat and a penalty that saved Gers' Scottish Cup campaign at the semi-final stage, Novo will be remembered for one moment in particular in that season.

His was the responsibility for the final penalty in Florence, a spot kick on which so much rested, and when he slotted it away to send Fiorentina crashing out and Rangers to Manchester he only increased his adoration among the light blue faithful.

The Spaniard was left frustrated by missing both the Scottish Cup and League Cup finals through suspension, but his appearance in the UEFA Cup final will be a memory he won't forget.

He will also be unlikely to forget the climax to the 2008/09 season in a hurry. Again a regular on the bench Novo showed just what an impact he can make from the bench.

Introduced at half time with the score tied at 0-0 the Spaniard produced a stunning volley with his first touch to beat Falkirk and add the Scottish Cup to the league title collected six days earlier.