ANDRE Boucaud says he owes Notts County big time.
And the 28-year-old midfielder wants to repay the club by getting their promotion challenge in League One back on track.
Boucaud has signed an 18-month deal at Meadow Lane, after shining on loan with the club in the first five months of the season.
He says he would probably still be languishing in non-league if the Magpies had not saved him from his misery at Luton Town.
Boucaud has revealed other clubs tried to hijack his permanent switch to Notts last week, because he did so well for them in 19 league games during his loan.
But he insists he only ever wanted to return to Meadow Lane.
"I was told there were other clubs interested in me, but I'm a loyal guy and as soon as I knew a fee had been agreed I wasn't interested in talking to anyone else," he said.
"Notts gave me a chance that no one else was prepared to give me.
"I would probably still be down there in non-league if it wasn't for them.
"It was a big gamble for them signing me.
"They showed a lot of faith in me by doing that and I'm determined to repay them by giving my all to try to get us promoted."
Notts have not played once since the last game of Boucaud's loan against MK Dons on New Year's Day.
He is glad he did not miss any games while he was briefly back at Luton – and is raring to return to action.
The Magpies are set to play their first game in 18 days against Sheffield United at Meadow Lane on Saturday, following the postponement at Portsmouth last weekend and not having a game due to the FA Cup the week before.
Keith Curle's side sit in 14th place in the League One table ahead of facing the fourth-placed Blades.
"It feels like I've not been away because I've not missed any games," added Boucaud.
"I've not lost any fitness since MK Dons because I trained when I was back at Luton, so I'm ready and raring to go again."