CHARLIE MILLER reckons Hibernian are fighting a losing battle in their attempts to stop Scott Allan joining boyhood heroes Rangers this summer.

The Light Blues had two bids for the playmaker turned down last week, but Allan is believed to be keen on a switch before the end of the current transfer window.

If no deal is done in the coming weeks, the 22-year-old is able to sign a pre-contract with the Gers in January and will head to Ibrox for free at the end of the season.

Hibs gaffer Alan Stubbs again reiterated his desire to hold on to Allan in the aftermath of Rangers’ 6-2 Petrofac Training Cup first-round win at Easter Road on Saturday.

But former Gers star Miller knows the midfielder can have a big part to play as the tug-of-war over his services gets set to continue.

He said: “It’s a difficult situation. The boy wants to leave, obviously, Rangers want him – but Hibs want to keep him. Money talks in the end.

“I think that’s what will happen in the end. Hibs will want £1.5million, they won’t get that, but they’ll get something for him. And good luck to the boy.

“I’ve been in a dressing room with players who wanted to leave and it’s not the ideal situation, obviously.

“At Rangers, there were a few changing rooms with a lot of very good players who wanted away because they couldn’t get a game.

“It doesn’t help. But I believe someone like Scott will come through it all stronger, whatever happens.

“He had a rough time down at West Brom, he made a bold decision to return and get back on track with Hibs. Let’s hope he kicks on.

“It will definitely have a detrimental effect on Hibs, all of this – but you just hope the boy is professional, plays as well as he can for Hibs and earns his move.

“He can then sign a pre-contract with Rangers in January, if he doesn’t go this window, and maybe he’ll move then.

“But he might play well enough to get back to England again. You never know.”

Hibs have so far stood firm in their fight to retain their prized asset this summer, even if it means they risk losing him for nothing come the end of the campaign.

Allan started on the bench at the weekend and couldn’t help Stubbs’ side recover during a second-half cameo as Rangers eased to victory.

Boss Warburton handed starts to Scots Danny Wilson, Lee Wallace, Jason Holt, Andy Halliday, Barrie McKay and David Templeton in Leith as his side clinched an eye-catching success.

And nine-in-a-row hero Miller is pleased to see several home-grown stars being given their chance to shine in Light Blue.

He said: “It’s important that there are Scots at the heart of what the manager is doing.

“There are a few good English boys but, if they get Scott Allan in, he’s joining a team with Danny Wilson, Jason Holt …

“There should be five or six from the academy in the team, by now, if you look at the situation the club was in. These players should have been brought through. But, if they bring in some young Scottish players, that’s good.

“You need your identity. You don’t want to lose your Scottish identity as a club – and there have been some good signings.”

While it was Ibrox veteran Kenny Miller who put a shine on the score line for Rangers at Easter Road, Warburton had summer recruits James Tavernier, Martyn Waghorn and Halliday to thank as his side recovered from a goal down to clinch a comfortable win.

And Miller reckons the signs are encouraging for the Light Blues as they prepare for Sunday’s League Cup clash with Peterhead and the start of the new Championship campaign.

He said: “I thought for the first 30 minutes on Saturday that Hibs were very good – then Rangers took control once they scored.

“I thought they looked very good, the right-back (Tavernier) in particular, who scored with a great free-kick.

“I was shocked with how well Rangers played on Saturday, I thought they did very well.

“So do they need Scott Allan after Saturday’s performance? Who knows?

“But they will be getting a good player, if and when they get him.”