KRIS BOYD today backed former strike partner Kenny Miller to be a hit again at Rangers if he returns for a THIRD spell.

Light Blues boss Ally McCoist has been linked with plotting another move for the 33-year-old, who is currently at MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps.

It is believed Miller is keen on a return to Ibrox – and Boyd is adamant his pal would be a good signing for Rangers, both as a first-team player and as a mentor for the younger players.

He said: "It is a brave decision from Rangers and a brave decision from him to go back for a third time. He's got young kids who are going to be brought up in Scotland in the long run. Do you want to be back here with the family or away for another couple of years? Kenny's made his decision and he wants to come back home. He'll do well for Rangers.

"When you've played at the level Kenny has, and you have any many caps as he has, the teams he has played in, then he would be an asset. Sometimes you get the best out of people when they are that bit older.

"Kenny will admit he was in and out the Rangers team until he went to England. He did really well at Wolves and since then he's turned into the player he is now. But that wasn't until he was 23, 24, when he went away, that his career started to kick on.

"Kenny was 22, 23 when he was getting the experience that these kids at Rangers are getting at 18 to 20. These kids need shown the right thing to do on and off the park to fulfil their potential."

They were once strike partners at Rangers, and both have an emotional attachment to the team, which is why Boyd is dismissive of the point of view that signing for Rangers in the Second Division displays a lack of ambition.

He said: "If Rangers chapped their door, it would be a totally different scenario. There was something going along the bottom of Sky Sports the other day saying Rangers had the fifth biggest attendance in British football and that shows you what size the club is and what it's about.

"I don't think any football player in their right mind wouldn't consider it. It's a massive club."

Boyd was speaking at Rugby Park to promote the One National Plan, a strategy agreed by all affiliated national associations and member leagues to ensure grassroots football continues to develop.

The former Ibrox hitman has also been linked with a move back to Rangers, but hasn't made any decision on where he will be playing his football next season.

There has been no approach from his old side, though, as McCoist has been seeking deals for Queen of the South striker Nicky Clark, Jon Daly of Dundee United, and Miller.

"I spoke to the manager here at Kilmarnock before the last game," said Boyd, the SPL's all-time leading goalscorer.

"He's away on holiday now, but he said we'd sit down when he gets back and speak with the chairman. We'll take it from there. My family have suffered for the last couple of years because I've moved here, there and everywhere.

"I'm back home now and I'm happy. I've enjoyed being here, taking the kids to school and doing stuff like this. It's pleasing to help the community when you're back home. I feel happy back here and we'll see what happens."