Kris Boyd has told boss Walter Smith he is the man who can fire Rangers to European glory against Panathinaikos this week.

The striker bagged his 16th goal of the season from the penalty spot against Kilmarnock to help seal a 2-0 win and restore a four-point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Sunday.

Despite his goalscoring prowess, Boyd was left kicking his heels on the bench when Rangers were held to a drab goalless draw by the Greek side in the first leg of the UEFA Cup tie at Ibrox last week.

Smith opted for a cautious approach to the game with Lee McCulloch deployed in the lone striker role in the absence of the suspended Jean-Claude Darcheville, but the Rangers boss knows he has to go for goals this time.

Boyd has rarely had the opportunity to show what he can do on the big European nights but is hoping his efforts in the SPL have earned him his chance in Athens.

"Hopefully I've done enough to start on Thursday," he said. "There was nothing I could do about it when the gaffer said he was playing it the way he did in the first leg at Ibrox.

"I'll stand by him and get on with it because he's the man in charge and the man who makes the decisions. There's nothing I can do other than go out and show I'm good enough to be there when I do get on the park.

"Obviously, there were chances in the game during the first leg so hopefully if I do get the chance on Thursday it'll be the same again and I can take one of them.

"It's a team game, though, so whoever plays will hopefully get a goal that takes us through."

Boyd has faced criticism for his lack of workrate in the past but showed signs he is working on his overall game at Rugby Park on Sunday.

As well as his penalty, he played a part in Carlos Cuellar's opener and created a couple of excellent chances for Darcheville.

Boyd added: "I was delighted to get the penalty and tuck it away. It's another good three points for the club but the game should probably have been over before then.

"Personally, all I can do is continue to work away and see what happens. As long as I'm putting the ball in the net I'll be happy, although I obviously realise there are other aspects to my game I need to work on.

"I feel I've been doing that and with that in mind I was happy with my performance. I created a couple of chances for Darche."

Kilmarnock sit second bottom of the SPL following a run of poor form and know they face the possibility of being dragged into a relegation scrap with Gretna if results do not improve.

"We've got to pick up points," admitted midfielder Gary Locke. "We've got everybody back now and it's time to push on. If we can perform like we did against Rangers, I'm pretty confident we will start winning games.

"We have to look at Gretna because of the position we are in but this performance was a lot more encouraging and, if we can play like that between now and the end of the season, we will win more games than we lose."

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