McDonald: Miller could be ideal signing

Former Rangers striker John McDonald has urged the club to make a move for Kenny Miller.

Miller is set to become a free agent next summer, after rejecting a new contract at Wolves, and he is being tipped for a return to the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

He already spent 18 months at Ibrox during Dick Advocaat’s reign, but both Rangers and Hearts are reported to be interested in the forward.

He left for Wolves in a £3m (€4.4m) deal at the time of current boss Alex McLeish being installed in December 2001, and McDonald believes the Rangers boss could now benefit from having Miller at his disposal.

He said: “He wasn’t really given the chance at the time under Dick Advocaat but the other way to look at it is, how many players who go back to a club for the second time are a real success?

“He actually did well when he did get the chance at Rangers, although there were a lot of big names at that time and it was difficult to sustain a run in the team.

“I think he would be a good addition now if they could get him. He wouldn’t be a bad ‘Bosman’ in the summer.”

McLeish appealed to his players for “a hero” who could put the ball in the back of the net for Rangers earlier in the season, but results in the SPL continued to falter and the Scottish champions remain 17 points adrift of Celtic.

McDonald considers Miller a player who could fit that profile for next term.

He added: “Dado Prso likes to come out of the box and make goals rather than score them.

“There hasn’t really been anyone who can play in the box and score goals. Kenny would do that.”

Miller came through a difficult spell with the Scotland national team to take many of the plaudits for improved results towards the end of their World Cup qualifying campaign, netting three goals in two games against Italy and Norway.

McDonald believes that fighting spirit would be welcome in a Rangers dressing room which has witnessed plenty of disappointment and lack of confidence this season.

He added: “He had a difficult spell with the international team but he didn’t let his head go down and he came through that well.

“He is full of confidence and he believes in himself and that’s important.”

Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle Glenn Hoddle made three contracts offers to the striker and warns that Miller will not be allowed to leave on the cheap in January.

Hoddle said: “Nobody has been on the phone. If they do, they will have to pay decent money or he will stay to the end of the season.

“We’ve made him a fabulous offer and feel we’ve done all we can.”

Hoddle told the club’s official website, www.wolves.co.uk: “Kenny has made it clear that he won’t be signing the contract we have offered him.

“He says he wants to keep his options open, so we have to live with that. We can’t force him to sign.”