KENNY Miller is capable of playing on for Rangers until he is into his FORTIES – but only if he receives far greater backing from his Ibrox team mates in future.

That was the prediction of former Gers striker Gary McSwegan today after it emerged that talks about Miller receiving an extension to his current deal had got underway.

New manager Pedro Caixinha has been greatly impressed with the contribution of the former Scotland player both on and off the park since arriving in this country last month.

Read more: Rangers players can show boss Pedro Caixinha they have a future at Ibrox - by defeating CelticGlasgow Times: Rangers striker Kenny Miller in action.

The hugely experienced hit man has been involved in all six of the matches which the Portuguese coach has taken charge of since being appointed and has scored three goals.

Caixinha is keen to keep the 37-year-old, whose current deal expires in the summer, at Rangers for the foreseeable future as he attempts to build a team which is capable of challenging Celtic for silverware and competing in Europe.

McSwegan, who spent seven seasons at Rangers at the start of his professional career in the 1980s and 1990s, played up front until he was the age of 38 himself.

The former Scotland internationalist believes Miller, who is in an unprecedented third spell at the club he grew up supporting as a boy, can continue to perform at a high level for several more seasons.

However, he feels the players around about him must shoulder more responsibility going forward if the 69-times capped forward is to prolong his distinguished career even further.

“It is important for Rangers to keep somebody like Kenny at the club,” he said. “He sets a great example for younger players coming through. He shows them how to conduct themselves and what they should be doing. He is an exemplary role model for kids and younger players as well.

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“But getting a new playing contract is fully justified as well. Having said that, I do think it is a bit unfair to have the same expectations of him going into the new season. I don’t think he can be expected to be the main man.

“He has been a shining light, the player who makes things happen, for Rangers at times this season. I think he should be looking to share the burden at times. The reality of the situation is that he is 37. He can’t be expected to keep performing the same role that he has at times this season

“I played on until I was nearly 39. Not at the level that Kenny is playing at, in the second tier where the pace of the play wasn’t as fast. I do think he has got another two or three seasons in him – if he wants to keep going and provided he doesn't pick up any of the sort of injuries which can happen as you get older.

“I don’t think Kenny should be looking to play nearly as many games in future either. I must admit that I found it hard. I picked up niggling strains and stuff like that. It can be frustrating. You definitely have to curtail your training and realise what your body can and can’t do. Recovery becomes very important the older you get.

“If Rangers want to be challenging for titles and cups it is unfair to expect a 38-year-old to be the main man. I’m not suggesting the other boys in the team haven’t done anything this season, but the manager has got to bring in fresh blood to help carry the load.

“Kenny is such an astute player who reads the game well. He takes it upon himself to drop into midfield and try and get things going when the game is going against his side. I think he has done fantastically well once again this season and deserves his contract extension.”

McSwegan, who has worked as an agent, a coach and a scout since retiring from playing following a final stint with Clyde, has also been taken aback by the performances of another golden oldie at Rangers this season, centre half Clint Hill.

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He feels that Caixinha should also make keeping the former Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City defender, whose current deal also expires at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, at Ibrox a priority in the4 coming weeks.

“Clint Hill is in the same bracket as Kenny,” he said. “He, too, is an excellent role model who really looks after himself. He has been excellent for Rangers as well.

“I think that sometimes teams are to quick to disregard older players. They look at them and think they aren’t a saleable asset for. Some managers also see them as threat to them. But players in their thirties have still got so much to offer.

“They are all super fit nowadays as well. They look after themselves. Their diet is very good and they live their lives the right way. I think that recovery becomes very important. You can’t just go straight into a game the next day. You have to relax a bit more than you did before – especially if you are playing two games in a week. But they do that and reap the benefits of it.

“Ultimately, Kenny is a winner. He has got that inner desire. He is self-motivated. Managers want players like that around about him. It will have been an easy decision for him to make.”