LIFELONG Rangers fan Naismith completed a last gasp move to Ibrox just moments before the end of the 2007 summer transfer window.

The versatile youngster was reportedly subject to interest from Celtic and a host of English clubs but he chose to sign a five year deal with his boyhood heroes that reunited him with his former Kilmarnock team mate and close friend Kris Boyd.

Born in Irvine, Naismith moved to Kilmarnock after a spell with local junior side Stewarton Annick, having at one time been on the books of Rangers as a youngster.

He made his first-team debut against Hibernian in April 2004 and helped Kilmarnock under-19s win the SFA Youth Cup Final against Rangers that same season.

He was voted the Scottish Football Writers' Young Player of the Year in 2006 and followed that by receiving the SPFA award for the same age group the following year.

In total he played 97 league games for Kilmarnock, scoring 29 goals. He has been capped by Scotland at under-18, under-21 and B level and made his full debut as a substitute in a 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands in June 2007.

Naismith made his debut less than 24 hours after putting pen to paper and his first goal came in only his second appearance for the club.

Eased in to the squad as a regular substitute he managed 5 goals in the SPL but was forced to sit out the club's successful League Cup campaign after scoring his final goal for Killie in a match that cup tied him in that competition.

The youngster's misery was compounded when a Hampden semi final in the Scottish Cup saw him suffer a cruciate knee ligament injury that forced him out of the final of that competition, the UEFA Cup and the run in to the SPL campaign.

A remarkable recovery had Naismith back well ahead of schedule and he made a top team return less than nine months after damaging his knee to offer Walter Smith an addition to his squad for the run in to the 2008/09 season.

However opportunities were limited for the youngster as Rangers chased the SPL title, and Naismith will be hoping a solid pre-season will see him work his way back in to the first team picture for 2009/10.