BILEL Mohsni feels playing with a smile on his face and being a permanent fixture in defence has led to him rediscovering his best form with Glasgow Rangers.

The Frenchman has already helped the Ibrox club wrap up the Division One title after going 29 games without a defeat in the competition.

But that success came almost a year since Mohsni left Southend United after an unsuccessful return to Roots Hall.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you aren’t happy then you just can’t play,” said the 26-year-old.

“When I went back to Southend last season I was so rubbish. It was a nightmare and it was the worst season I’ve ever had after everything that went on.

“But I’m happy again now, I’m enjoying my football and I think sticking to just one position certainly helps.

“Sometimes in training at Southend I didn’t know where to go because I didn’t know if I was a defender, a midfielder or a forward.

“But defence is my main position so I think it’s done me good and it means I get to kick people rather than having them kick me.”

Mohsni endured a turbulent three year spell with the Shrimpers, scoring 18 goals in 80 games, while also being shown 28 yellow and five red cards.

The versatile Frenchman had a series of bust ups with his team-mates and remains frustrated not to have joined West Ham United at the start of last season.

The defender spent seven months away from Southend after chairman Ron Martin turned down an offer of around £100,000 from the Hammers.

And Mohsni knows some Blues fans will never forgive him for that reaction.

“Some of the Southend supporters will still hate me for what happened and how I treated the club,” said Mohsni.

“I’m fine with that because Southend is their team and they always want the best for them but they don’t always know what’s happening behind the scenes.

“I could’ve been a Premier League player had the chairman sold me and so I decided I didn’t want to play for him again.

“I went to a few different clubs after that on trial and on loan and was going to sign for Blackpool before Paul Sturrock told me he needed me back.

“He is a top man so I said I would go back for him but he got sacked and then Phil Brown came in.

“I didn’t really enjoy it and the club told me to leave which was a shame because I wanted to stay until the end of the season.

“But overall I learnt a lot at Southend, I know I made mistakes but it was my first time in professional football.

“I met some very nice people like Barry Corr, Luke Prosser and Ben the physio and I still get some Facebook messages from people in Southend which is good.

“I enjoyed being there and I hope they can also get promotion this season.”

But Mohsni now has securing more success with Rangers on his mind and is desperate to help get them back in to the top division.

“When I first signed here I said I was coming in help get the club back in to the Premier League and that’s still the aim,” said Mohsni.

“Rangers is a fantastic club and playing at a stadium like Ibrox with more than 40,000 fans there is amazing.

“I love it here apart from the weather because it always rains.

“But I’ve scored nine goals and there is more football than fighting, unlike in England, so I honestly don’t get in as much trouble now either.”