THE months are ticking down on his contract and his career only has a couple of years left to run.

But Kris Boyd is confident Kenny Miller can still turn the clock back and perform at the highest level for Rangers if they can clinch their Premiership return this term.

Miller will turn 36 a few months before Mark Warburton’s side have a chance to get their hands on the Championship silverware but the veteran forward is determined not to slow down on the park or off it.

He has begun coaching at Murray Park with the Light Blues Under-20 squad as he considers a future career in the dugout. He still has a role to play at the head of the Gers attack, though.

Glasgow Times: Rangers striker Kenny Miller

Boss Warburton has spoken positively about the influence Miller has had in the Ibrox dressing room in the opening weeks of the campaign, his experience and nous crucial to a newly assembled squad fresh to what being a Rangers player entails.

After five strikes in his first three appearances this term, the goals may not have been as forthcoming as he would have liked in recent weeks.

But Boyd insists there is plenty left in the tank of the man he enjoyed a prolific partnership with in Light Blue and who has insisted he is ready for the challenge of a crack at the Premiership next term.

“I think he does,” Boyd said when asked if Miller had another top flight campaign in him.

“He has had to settle for a place on the bench in some games this season, but that’s what happens when you get to that age.

“You can’t play every minute of every game. But you can see that he scored important goals at the beginning of the season.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to play a lot of games with Kenny and train alongside him thousands of times.

“He will train his hardest every single day. Rangers have a lot of young kids in their ranks right now and Kenny will pull them in the right direction. He will show them what it takes to be a Premiership striker.

Glasgow Times: Rangers striker Kenny Miller

“I’m sure it will be something Rangers will look to tie up in the next couple of days or weeks.

“Kenny will do things properly every single day and, as I said, drag the youngsters with him.

“That’s what Rangers need, along with the other experienced ones such as Lee Wallace. They do the proper things every single day.

“Playing for Rangers does take some getting used to if you have never done it in the past. But the way these guys handle themselves off the pitch is a credit as well.

“If it was me involved with Rangers, I’d be looking to tie up Kenny as soon as I possibly could.”

The opening weeks of the campaign have seen Miller make his mark in a number of ways at Ibrox, but it is summer signing Martyn Waghorn who has been the main source of goals for Rangers.

The Englishman has 15 strikes to his credit already this term from just 17 appearances as he has fired the Light Blues into a commanding position in the Championship.

Rangers are reaping the rewards of the new style of play Warburton has implemented at Ibrox and Boyd has been impressed with Waghorn’s strike rate and his adaptability so far.

“I’ve always said that an Old Firm striker should look towards the 20 mark. Anything above that is a bonus,” he said.

“The way Rangers are playing brings a lot of opportunities. But when you look at Martyn Waghorn just now, you are not talking about an out-and-out striker. You are talking about someone who has maybe played half the games in a wide area.

Glasgow Times: Rangers' Martyn Waghorn celebrates having put his side 2-1 ahead against Queen of the South

“But that’s part of the reason why they have had success. They have a winger who hugs the touchline and then Kenny and Martyn Waghorn can interact.

“Opposition defenders aren’t sure where to go if Kenny is dropping off or Martyn is coming across people. They are difficult to mark.

“If you are Rangers player right now, the number of chances will be exciting. That’s all you can ask for as a striker. I’m sure Martyn will be delighted with that.”

Having taken significant steps towards a Premiership place with eleven wins from eleven outings this term, Rangers will look to take a significant stride forward when they travel to Easter Road this weekend.

Victory over Hibernian would put them eleven points clear at the top of the table and, for many observers, too far out of reach for Alan Stubbs’ side to realistically reel in.

And former Ibrox star Boyd knows it is important Rangers clinch the crown sooner rather than later to allow them to start planning ahead for the top flight.

Boyd said: “At the beginning of the season, they went and got players to win this league.

“They don’t want an overhaul of 15 or 16 players again so they are now looking at players who can come in for next season.

“That would prevent the wholesale change and the time it takes for new players to settle in.

Glasgow Times: Rangers manager Mark Warburton celebrates as Martyn Waghorn finds the back of the net to put his side 2-1 ahead

“It is a big step up, no doubt about it. But Rangers will be looking – in January or in the summer – for players who can come into the top league and hit the ground running, rather than taking two or three months to bed in.

“Because they will need everyone firing on all cylinders next season if they are to challenge.”

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