THE disappointment is still as strong as it was two decades ago for Kenny Miller. His desire for the game has not diminished, either.

Miller will turn 37 next month but age is just a number for the striker. There is nothing to suggest that the season that saw him net his 100th goal for Rangers will be his last.

In the twilight of his career, Miller remains one of the stars of Mark Warburton’s squad, his influence off the park as significant as that on it.

The trip to Firhill this weekend could be viewed as an opportunity to rest Miller ahead of the crucial Premiership fixtures against Hearts and Aberdeen.

Read more: Kenny Miller: Rangers can stride towards second spot with wins over Premiership rivals

If Warburton made that call, Miller would respect it. But he would still be frustrated.

"It helps when you're going from game to game,” he said.

“We've not had that many midweek games and when we have the gaffer has, against my own feelings to be honest with you, taken me out of the team.

“The only cup game I played after the group stages was the semi-final. I didn't play against Queens or Peterhead.

“We had St Johnstone as well and I didn't play in that game either. I've missed games through the week but I feel great and I feel I could still be playing three games in a week.

Read more: Kenny Miller: Rangers can stride towards second spot with wins over Premiership rivals

“But we've a bigger squad than we had last season and if the manager feels it is right to rotate, he's the boss.

"Yes, a big part of me gets annoyed. He works in a way where sometimes you find out you're being left out and sometimes you don't find out.

“You walk up pre-match and you're on the bench and it's still as frustrating and annoying as ever. You can sometimes understand it a bit more but it doesn't make it any easier.

"The manager sees the way I work every day. I don't want to be judged as a player who is 37 next month, I want to be judged on performances.

“And I feel as though I merit and deserve a place in that starting 11. Until that changes I'll be making the demands and knocking on the door if I'm left out.”

His levels may not have dipped this season but Miller continues to strive for improvement, most significantly in terms of his goal return. He is not alone in that regard, though.

The strike against Inverness that brought up his century was his last for Warburton’s side and he has three to his credit from 19 appearances this term.

It was Harry Forrester who was the Ibrox hero against Dundee as the Gers left it late but Miller insists the rewards were more than merited.

He said: “I think a lot was made of us scoring a last minute goal last week. But if you look at the game as a whole, there is no doubt we were the dominant team. We had good chances we should have scored.

“You then look at the Inverness game when we scored in the first half. Again, it was only 1-0 but we should have been three or four up at half-time that night. But we weren’t. Again, it was a deserved victory, I thought.

“The fact there is a last minute goal means people can say you were fortunate but I look at it another way.

“If you look that goal, Dundee’s ten players are within 40 yards of the goal. There is only one team pressing to win the game.

“I don’t think it’s fortunate that we at least got an opportunity to win the game. There was a really good build-up, a good cross and a fantastic header.”

The joy of celebration was mixed with relief at Ibrox as Rangers avoided another Premiership slip-up with just seconds to spare.

A lack of cutting edge has cost Warburton’s side dear this season as chances have been spurned and points have been dropped.

Much of the focus has fallen on Joe Garner following his £1.8million arrival from Preston and Miller is confident the forward will find his shooting boots in Light Blue.

Read more: Kenny Miller: Rangers can stride towards second spot with wins over Premiership rivals

He said: “When we have been in the position we have been in over past years, and unable to make any investment in bigger transfer fees, the fact we have paid a lot of money for Joe inevitably means he is going to be under scrutiny.

“He is also coming from Preston and it is a step to come to a club like this. It was always going to take him time to find his feet.

“I feel he is showing signs of doing that in the last three or four games and has got a few goals as well, which is great for him.

“Like any new player, it is about getting used to the way we play. Players are coming from teams who maybe don’t play the same style.

“We want to dominate the ball and patient. I understand it can be frustrating for fans when it is 0-0 and they expect us to be throwing the kitchen sink at teams.

“But I think Saturday shows that if we stick to our principles then we will get the results more often than not.”