Ferguson returned from a five-month lay-off in November

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson says he will silence the people who have criticised his form since returning from five months out through injury.

The Glasgow club have won only five games from nine since Ferguson returned at the start of November.

Ferguson insists it will take time to return to form, but he is determined to respond on the pitch.

"I'm a strong character and in the weeks to come, I'll shut my critics up," he told the club website.

Ferguson, who also underwent surgery to repair ligaments in his right ankle in April 2006, missed this season's Champions League qualifiers as well as Scotland's opening World Cup qualifying matches following ankle problems.

The Ibrox club captain made his return, following corrective surgery, in the 5-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, coming on for Kevin Thompson in the second half, but insists his best is yet to come.

"I'm always open for criticism if I'm not fully up to speed, but I've said all along that it'll take me a few matches to catch up with the rest of the squad," said Ferguson.

It's what I do on the park now that counts and I'll prove those people wrong, there's no doubt about that Barry Ferguson

"The thing is I've been finished two or three times already according to some people.

"It's what I do on the park now that counts and I'll prove those people wrong, there's no doubt about that.

"Everybody's got their opinion. I heard these sort of things when I came back from my last ankle operation and, for my first month back in the team, some said I'd lost it.

"A couple of months later, I started to play the way I should have been and everything that had happened in the past was forgotten about.

"I'm here to show that folk are wrong with what they've been saying and I'll do that, have no doubt. I'll make them eat their words."

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Walter Smith says his captain needs more time to return to form before the critics write him off.

"The expectation from everyone is that he plays in the same manner as he did do before he got out - and it can't be done," said Smith.

"That's one of the difficulties playing at Rangers: coming back in to a situation where the expectation level is extremely high.

"Any sensible person would know it'd take Barry three or four games to get up to speed."

Ferguson's ability to play in the same midfield as summer signing Pedro Mendes has been questioned by the media, but Smith says the pair performed well in Saturday's league draw against Dundee United.

"I felt both players were excellent and that was a big aspect of the game," said Smith.

"I thought they played extremely well throughout the match - they're good players, both of them.

"It was just a matter of time before Barry started to play.

"Everybody has to show a level of patience, a level of common-sense and anybody who was looking at the game would realise that's the case."

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