HE has been around the top flight block on several occasions and has more miles on the clock than anyone else at Ibrox.

But Jonatan Johansson is confident that Kenny Miller will be able to get up to speed and hit top gear once again for Rangers next term.

There were eyebrows raised and murmurs of discontent from some supporters when Miller was handed a new deal just months into Mark Warburton’s Light Blues reign.

It was a show of faith from the manager, but a decision that was questioned by a few as the striker put pen-to-paper on a contract that will take him beyond his 37th birthday.

Five years after he left Ibrox, having netted 23 times in the first half of the league campaign, Miller will play top flight football in Scotland once again next term.

Any doubts about whether he will be able to make the step up from the Championship were quashed as he helped Warburton’s side lift the second tier title and Petrofac Training Cup, before coming within minutes of Scottish Cup glory.

And Johansson has no fears about how Miller will cope back amongst the top clubs in the country next time out as the Gers set their sights on the silverware once again.

“Kenny showed in the games against the Premiership opponents how good he still is, and also in the cup final, where I thought he had an excellent game,” Johansson told SportTimes.

“He is definitely fit enough and good enough to play in the Premiership again.

“He will be important for Rangers next season and he can score goals for Rangers in the Premiership.

“Kenny is still very quick and very sharp, which is a testament to his professionalism at that age. His movement on the pitch has always been very good, he understands the game tactically and he reads the game really well.

“It is no surprise to see him still playing a big part for Rangers. Age is only a number and I think he can play another season in the Premiership no problem.

“The older you get, the better you are at managing your game and Kenny will know what he needs to do to get himself through another season.”

It was not just on the park where Miller led by example during a campaign that delivered important successes but ended in the most disappointing of manners for Rangers.

Boss Warburton often highlighted the importance of the striker and captain Lee Wallace for the impact they made in the dressing room and the training field throughout the season.

With four new players already signed up for next term and a several more to come, Miller will play a crucial role in integrating the summer recruits into the Murray Park pool.

And Johansson knows the 36-year-old will be a key member of the Light Blues squad once again as Rangers eye further triumphs on Warburton’s watch.

He said: “He is a very important player to have around the training ground in terms of helping the squad and helping young players to break into the first team.

“Players like Kenny are invaluable for a club and they could look to the future and look to keep him in the club. That, and his performances, obviously contributed towards his contract.

“It will be different for the squad next season but they have had a season of playing under the pressure you are at Rangers and they know what to expect. The demands from the supporters have always been high on Rangers players.

“It is important to have experienced players in the team and there isn’t anyone there more experienced than Kenny. He has played in the Scottish top league, he has played in England and abroad and he has played for the national team.

“To have someone like him in the squad is very important, especially when there are new players coming into the team and they are playing for Rangers for the first time. He will be someone to look up to and learn from.”

With Accrington duo Matt Crooks and Josh Windass and midfield pair Jordan Rossiter and Joey Barton already on board for next term, Warburton has made an early start to his summer shopping spree.

Another forward is expected to be on his list as the Ibrox boss bids to add strength and depth to the Gers squad to ensure they are in the best shape possible for a crack at the Premiership crown.

Johansson said: “I am sure that the manager will look to improve the team and improve the players that he has got on the books already. He will look to bring players in for certain positions, that is normal and good.

“You need competition for places and you need to improve always. The higher the level you are playing at, the more tough games you have and you need more better players if you are going to be successful.”