RANGERS striker Andrius Velicka's Ibrox career is set to kickstart at the turn of the year according to Lithuanian football chiefs.

The hitman has been playing for 20 months non-stop after joining from Norwegian club Viking Stavanger's summer season.

While most have simply assumed that Velicka has failed to cut the competitive mustard at Gers since his £1million move, Lithuanian FA president Liutauras Varanavicius has revealed that after talks between his organisation and the Ibrox hierarchy an agreement was brokered to allow the 29-year-old a gentle start to his career in Light Blue.

Velicka has only figured from the substitutes' bench in both legs of the disastrous Champions League qualifier at the hands of Kaunas and made just two SPL starts way back in August against Falkirk and Hearts.

However, Varanavicius said: "We know that there is an understanding at Rangers that Andrius needs rest and he will not start back for the first team until around the New Year.

"After his move from Norway it meant he had been playing football for 20 months - for Kaunas, Hearts, Viking Stavanger and also for the Lithuanian national team - without having a proper break. No footballer would be able to handle that kind of schedule."

Varanavicius has revealed that Velicka is loving life at Rangers and is confident that the striker will return to the fray in the New Year ready to play a key role for Gers and his country.

He said: "Andrius is happy at how he is being treated by Rangers. He is liking the club very much and he says he has good relationships with his team-mates, the manager and the coaching staff.

"He is enjoying it and is looking forward to getting back into the team. In my opinion there are good working relationships there.

"I last saw Andrius play against the Faroes last month for Lithuania. He looked OK but was still in need of rest. He is also in need of practice because he has missed so many games and is not match-sharp.

"But he will be back soon and we are delighted because we want him for Lithuania's important World Cup qualifier against France in March."

Another fringe player waiting for a chance is Spanish kid Aaron.

But he said: "I knew when I came here it would take some time to break into the top team.

"But I haven't lost any of my enthusiasm and believe my chance will come soon. I still hope to make a big impression between now and the end of the season."