Kenny Miller could be set for Rangers return

Ally McCoist is keen to bring Kenny Miller back to Rangers. Picture: Jane Barlow

Rangers, who are in the last week of a transfer embargo, can only register free agents from 1 September and because Miller has only just put pen to paper on a new deal with Vancouver Whitecaps, the earliest he could sign for Rangers would be January.

However, McCoist would appear to have no problem with waiting for Miller, who trained with Rangers at Murray Park last winter, and is in constant touch with the veteran forward, who will turn 34 on 29 December.

Miller called time on his international career last week, after 69 caps and 18 goals for his country. He bowed out on a personal high, having scored a sublime goal against England at Wembley in Scotland’s thrilling 3-2 defeat in a friendly earlier this month.

He has enjoyed a successful time in the Major Soccer League with Vancouver Whitecaps, but would appear to be open to another return to Rangers, who he first joined from Hibernian in 2000, then rejoined in 2008 despite having played for Old Firm rivals Celtic in the period in between.

Speaking after Rangers’ laboured 2-0 victory over Berwick Rangers in the Ramsdens Cup at Ibrox on Tuesday night, McCoist confirmed: “Kenny would certainly interest me, I would be lying if I said he didn’t interest me quite a lot.

“If there was an opportunity to get Kenny, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t explore that. We will have to wait and see. I keep in touch with Kenny, but I haven’t spoken to him since the day after the England game. In terms of the possibility of him coming here, I haven’t spoken to him about that.

“I wouldn’t rule it out. I’ll certainly be making enquiries in the next wee while. If it’s a possibility, it’s an avenue we would look to possibly pursue. I don’t know if Kenny would want to come, if we could afford him. There are millions of questions but I do think we need another forward.”

Career history

It would be another twist in a remarkable career for Musselburgh-born Miller.

Having come through the youth system at Easter Road, he made his Hibs breakthrough under Alex McLeish and when the manager moved to Rangers he followed him to Ibrox in a £2 million deal in 2000.

However, Miller was soon sold to Wolves in 2001, and after five seasons at Molineux he returned to Scotland - this time to play for Celtic.

Again Miller’s time in Glasgow was brief, and within a year he was back in England with Derby County.

Rangers lured Miller back in 2008 and after three successful years he tried his luck abroad, signing for Turkish club Bursaspor. After just 15 appearances, in which he scored five goals, Miller was on the move again - to Championship side Cardiff City, and again after just one season he moevd to the MLS with Vancouver.

Ramsdens Cup

Meanwhile, McCoist has told his players he wants to go all the way in the Ramsdens Cup this year after beating Berwick in the second round.

Rangers reached the quarter-finals last season when they lost on penalties to Queen of the South, who went on to win the trophy.

The competition is for teams from the lower leagues and, having never won it before, McCoist - who has suffered a series of embarrassing cup exits during his time in charge at Ibrox - is keen for Rangers to justify their tag as odds-on favourites with the bookmakers and claim the silverware this term.

“We want to win everything that we are in,” he said. “We didn’t like getting put out last year by Queen of the South.

“We always felt this would be a tough game because Berwick made it difficult for us in games last year. But we want to win every tournament that we are in and the Ramsdens Cup is no different.”

Goals from Barrie McKay and Andy Little secured the 2-0 win which sets up another meeting with holders Queens in the third round.

McCoist added: “They had a fantastic season last year, winning the league by a country mile. They are in good form again this year. It will be a tough game, especially down there.”