Kenny Miller marvels at Rangers' achievement

KENNY MILLER insists a second successive Clydesdale Bank Premier League title for Rangers will be even more impressive considering the odds stacked against them this season.

Manager Walter Smith has endured another campaign where he has been unable to buy any new players, and also had to cope with the loss of Pedro Mendes in the last transfer window.

The club's financial woes have been well documented, along with the fact that no-one knows whether Smith – who is working without a contract – and players whose deals expire in the summer will still be at Ibrox next term.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, the champions have managed to overcome obstacles which have been placed in their path and could retain their crown against Hearts tomorrow if Celtic drop points to Hibs today.

"It would be a huge achievement," said Miller. "Every team needs a fresh face, even if it's just to keep other people on their toes. We've not been able to do that for the last 18 months or so.

"I was always confident we could retain the title and I said at the start of the season that the squad we've got is good enough.

"We lost Pedro Mendes in January, who was a quality player, and when you are not able to bring that type of replacement back into the squad, it's always tough."

The striker added: "Having a settled squad, the manager has to try and keep everybody on their toes and everybody at a reasonable level of fitness. He has changed the team quite a few times and rested players and given other lads a chance. We have still ground out the results even when we haven't been playing as well so it's been a good season for us so far and it would round it off nicely if we could win the league this weekend."

Meanwhile, Miller claims there are no hard feelings between himself and Kyle Lafferty after giving his fellow striker an earful on a number of occasions during the midweek draw at Dundee United.

"Whether it be Kyle or someone else, I'm just a moany player and I just felt like having a wee moan at that moment," Miller said. "Big Laff had a decent game the other night and he had a really good game last week against Aberdeen and chipped in with a goal.

"It's just one of those things that happen on a football park.

"If someone has a go at me, I don't take it personally. It's not because they don't like you. We are all team-mates and just trying to win the title."