On a Sunday morning three years ago, on a training pitch outside Auxerre, Stephane Guivarc'h was so frustrated about being left out of the first team at the club where he eventually made his name that he took it out on the local amateurs in opposition.

Dominique Cuperly, Auxerre's assistant coach and No.2 to Europe's longest serving manager, Guy Roux, remembers the occasion well.

''Stephane scored nine times, all from different angles. It was an incredible performance regardless of the opposition.''

Cuperly believes now, just as he did after watching Guivarc'h in action back then, that Rangers' new signing will prove, if he hasn't already, an inspired signing by chairman David Murray and manager Dick Advocaat.

The two goals Guivarc'h scored on his debut against St Johnstone on Sunday may have come at a time when Rangers were already cruising but the fact that the World Cup winner scored with his first touch was, said Cuperly, concrete evidence of what to expect in the months to come, provided Guivarc'h can stay clear of injury.

Newcastle's loss, says Cuperly, will be Rangers' considerable gain, both in terms of his hunger for goals and his adaptability.

''It mirrors how he was when he was with us, and before,'' said Cuperly. ''He always had this remarkable passion for scoring goals from whatever angle. I had an expression to describe his goals. I used to say they were 'coming from elsewhere' - meaning we didn't know the

origin of them, how he managed to score some of them.''

Cuperly hasn't spoken to Guivarc'h since his move to Glasgow but they discussed the transfer on the morning before the deal went through. ''He had this terrible urge to play. He simply couldn't wait around any longer.''

Guivarc'h started in France's opening World Cup match against South Africa but injured his knee. He came on as a late substitute against Denmark and, in the second round, against Paraguay but was back in the starting line-up for the rest of the campaign, including the final.

Despite such high-profile appearances for his country, Glasgow's latest foreign import will not, if his former assistant manager is to be believed, allow the latest development in his rollercoaster career to go to his head. All three French clubs where he played before crossing the Channel - Brest, Guingamp and Auxerre - are small, homespun teams run on a powerful ethic of team membership.

''Stephane never forgets where he came from,'' said Cuperly. ''He's a very warm guy and will quickly become part of the Rangers family. He's an excellent team player and listens to advice. We missed him badly when he left. I suppose we still do.''

If Cuperly has any doubts about the wisdom of the striker's choice, he isn't showing it.

Perhaps that is because he has his own special affection for Rangers, built up during numerous ''spying'' visits a few years ago when both clubs were in the Champions' League together.

''I saw many games that year,'' he said. ''I appreciated the quality of the Scottish championship. People say it isn't very strong but the games I saw, I enjoyed.''

The French press seem delighted that an important player in their Euro 2000 qualifying campaign should at last be playing first-team football again. Guivarc'h told the respected French daily sports paper, l'Equipe, that Ruud Gullit didn't even bid him farewell at Newcastle.

''He was totally lacking in respect,'' he said. ''As a result, I have no respect for him, either, as a coach or a former superstar.''

Maybe not but Guivarc'h

cannot afford to fail again. ''He has no time to lose,'' agreed

l'Equipe, ''but he seems ready. Possibly because this time, he has a coach who wants him.''

One of his new team-mates, Russian winger Andrei Kanchelskis, is convinced the Frenchman can become a major player in the Premier League.

''Stephane is a top striker and we are lucky to get him,'' he said. ''Before the World Cup he was wanted by clubs in Italy. He will score more I am sure of that but he still needs a few games before he settles into the club.

''I feel we can get even better, even though last night was one of our best displays of the season. We have a tough schedule ahead of us with Celtic, the Parma ties and the League Cup final but we have to handle it.''

The Italian giants, lying sixth in Serie A following their unimpressive 1-1 draw against Bari, sent a representative to McDiarmid Park and must surely have been given plenty food for thought.

Advocaat said: ''I hope we have made him a little bit nervous after this performance.''

Rangers are back in action on Saturday when they face Aberdeen, who managed a 2-1 victory against Dunfermline on Saturday, at Ibrox and midfielder Barry Ferguson is expected to return after an ankle injury.

However, Advocaat will be without French goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier, who is out for the rest of the season after suffering cruciate ligament

damage in the UEFA Cup tie against Bayer Leverkusen at Ibrox last week.

The Ibrox coach is now mulling over whether or not to recruit another keeper, although there does appear to be enough cover. Finland's No.1, Antti Niemi, in goal against St Johnstone, will remain first choice, with back-up coming in the form of Dutchman Theo Snelders and youngster Michael Brown.

Advocaat said: ''We might need back-up. I will see if we have to sign another keeper, although Niemi is a good goalie.

''Lionel did an excellent job and won us many points as well helping us in European games. He will be missed.''