BILEL MOHSNI faced two distinct choices as he grew up in a tough Paris suburb: fall into a life of crime and drugs or chase the dream of becoming a professional footballer. 

The streets of Les Ulis, around 20 miles south of the Champs Elysees, were full of temptation and danger. However, thanks to his own strength and the strictness of his father , the Rangers centre-back was able to stay on the straight and narrow and follow in some famous footsteps.

Thierry Henry was brought up in Les Ulis, while Manchester United's Patrice Evra also hails from the new town. Now Mohsni has become a cult hero of the Rangers supporters after three years with Southend United. However, he has revealed that had he not made it as a footballer he would likely be working in a care centre in his home town trying to help the youth of today stay away from the darker aspects of life.

"You had two options when I was growing up," the 26-year-old said. "You could be a gangster or you could play football. I didn't smoke or take drugs or have alcohol but it was all close by. It would have been easy to get into trouble or fall into drugs because you just needed to walk a few metres and you could find it but I managed to stay away from that.

"It was always my dream to be a footballer and I have achieved this dream. If I didn't make it I would have been working with children. When I was playing in France I also worked at a centre where we looked after children from all ages. We would care for them and teach them good habits to try to stop them from falling into bad ways."

Mohsni is French by birth but he feels Tunisian, too. "I am both," he explained. "I was born in France and I lived there until I was 22, but my family is Tunisian and the culture is very important so I feel French when I am in France and I feel Tunisian when I am in Tunisia. I try to go to Tunisia about two weeks each year to see my cousins and my aunts and uncles. My father was born in Tunisia and up until recently he ran a restaurant in our home town."

Father Habib was always looking out for Bilel and refused to allow his son to go to watch his beloved Paris Saint-Germain when they were beaten on penalties by Rangers in 2001 in the UEFA Cup in what proved to be Dick Advocaat's last significant act as manager. "My father thought it was too dangerous," Moshni recalled. "The fans at Paris were like Celtic and Rangers fans. There were two factions and they didn't like each other. In fact they hated each other. My dad was afraid because we didn't know what was going to happen. You could be walking between these two groups and suddenly they would start fighting, It's better now but my dad thought it was too dangerous then."

Mohsni was largely successful with Southend after being recruited by Paul Sturrock in 2010, but had a difference of opinion with Sturrock's successor Phil Brown. Now, having impressed during a trial period, he is proving to be an astute signing as Rangers have recorded eight consecutive SPFL League 1 wins. They seek a ninth at Brechin City tomorrow afternoon. "Football is in the mind more than it is in your feet," Mohsni said. "If you have problems in your private life then you can't play at your highest level. When I came here I had a clear mind and moved on. The atmosphere at Rangers is great. There is pressure to win but the focus is so good.

"It was complicated at Southend in my last season because of politics but now I feel completely free. The manager has given me his confidence and the players have let me play so it is perfect for me. I think Ally McCoist and Paul Sturrock are similar and I feel I can work better with managers like them. I want to fight for managers like that. When you feel tired you still give 100%."

Mohsni, who has scored four times this season, believes that Rangers can remain undefeated in League 1 and he also wants to clinch a new contract, having signed until the summer of 2015. He said: "I think we can play the whole season without losing a league game because we have a lot of good players for this league. I would love to get another contract because my goal is to get back to the top with Rangers. I have to keep going, I have to keep playing well and do my best in these two years and hopefully they will give me another contract."