Webster finally looked set to kick-start his Rangers career after captaining Dundee United to Scottish Cup success and making a Scotland comeback during a season-long loan spell at Tannadice.

The centre-back started for Rangers during several pre-season matches but a hamstring injury picked up on the club's trip to Australia has kept him out of all competitive action.

It was the latest in a long line of injury blows to hit the former Hearts player.

The 28-year-old has made just one first-team appearance for Rangers since joining the club from Wigan, initially on loan, in January 2007.

Webster damaged knee ligaments during his first training session at Murray Park and his latest piece of bad luck has seen him written off again in some quarters.

But Webster is determined to erase all negative thoughts and focus on his return to fitness after stepping up his recovery.

He told the Rangers News: "It`s up to people how they judge me but nobody likes being injured or spending time on the sidelines.

"I`d much rather be playing in football matches than sitting watching them and not being involved.

"It`s frustrating that that`s not the case at the moment but I`m just focusing on making sure I get myself right and ready to play again.

"I spent a lot of last week running with the physios and hopefully that`s me getting close to being back and involved with the rest of the boys again."

Webster started 31 games for Dundee United so he is confident his hamstring problem is just a temporary blow.

"I`ve had a setback at the start of the season but I don`t think it`s going to disrupt me in the long term and I`m looking forward to getting playing again," he added.

"People can think what they want - good, bad or indifferent. They might label me a certain way but that`s their prerogative.

"If I listened to what was said about me I might lose focus and that`s not what I`m looking to do.

"When you`re getting applause from people, you take it with a pinch of salt and it`s exactly the same when things aren`t going so well. You deal with it in the same manner.

"I know it would be easy to let my head drop, but the more you think about things and ponder, the more it drives you insane.

"The most important thing is not to dwell. I`ve learned to be a bit more patient."