STEVEN PRESSLEY has set his sights on a return to the Celtic first team after playing 90 minutes for the first time since May.
The defender strolled through Tuesday's Old Firm reserve league clash in his comeback following career-saving surgery on his back.
And afterwards he revealed boss Gordon Strachan almost played him in the Champions League against Benfica.
Pressley said: "I was almost brought in as emergency cover for the Benfica game a week ago because of circumstances with injuries. But I certainly think the manager will believe I need a couple of games before he throws me in.
"But I'm delighted to be back playing and I thoroughly enjoyed the Rangers game."
The 34-year-old believes going under the knife has saved his career after playing through a nagging back injury that was worsening game by game.
Pressley said: "I spoke to the surgeon after the operation and he said if I didn't have the surgery then it would continue to plague me.
"Back surgery is quite a major operation in terms of the rehab and we have had to be very careful but almost two weeks after surgery I began to feel really good again and they had to hold me back at times.
"It has been a problem for me for some time and I genuinely believe this will prolong my career."
The Scotland star suffered two crunching challenges within a minute from Rangers' Alan Gow which both required treatment in the Old Firm second string draw.
But he returned to complete the 90 minutes and said: "I took one on the shoulder and then my face but it's part and parcel of football and you get on with it.
"It was just nice to be back in the thick of things."
