DEREK McInnes may remind Willie Miller of Sir Alex Ferguson due to the way he has enjoyed consistent success at Pittodrie in the last six years by successfully recycling his side.

However, Miller believes he must land the William Hill Scottish Cup in order to be mentioned in the same breath as the great Aberdeen managers.

McInnes has led the Dons to four straight second-placed finishes in the Ladbrokes Premiership and lifted the League Cup with them back in 2014.

However, speaking at Premier Sports media event ahead of the cup quarter-final against Rangers at Pittodrie this afternoon, Miller expressed the view that he needs to win this tournament to attain legendary status.

“I think when you win a trophy it obviously guarantees you a place in club history,” he said. “I think that winning the Scottish Cup is the big one.

“The League Cup’s good, it was my first trophy with Ally MacLeod. Ally’s up there and Derek is too.

“But the Scottish Cup is, I think, the one the Aberdeen fans look on as being the big trophy. That’s certainly how I looked on it when I played.

“Eddie Turnbull won the Scottish Cup in my first season. It was sitting in the boardroom in 1971 when I went up there. Eddie’s classed as a great manager in the minds of Aberdeen fans.

“I think if Derek could lift the trophy then, absolutely, he’s up there with the best.”

Miller spent three years in charge of Aberdeen during which he failed, despite finishing runners-up to Rangers twice in the league, to lift a trophy.

He understands the pressure McInnes is under to produce results and has been impressed by the way he has dealt with the loss of key players like Jonny Hayes, Ryan Jack and Kenny McLean during his tenure.

“Fergie did that when he was at Aberdeen,” he said. “He was constantly looking for maybe a different way of doing things. It can be forced upon you because players decide to move on, but I think Derek has done that well.

“He seems to have a good scouting network and is good at getting loan players as well. He has given young players a chance as well, none more so than Scott McKenna. Connor McLennan as well. I was a wee bit surprised that Scott Wright was loaned out, but he is another one you will hear about in the future.

“But Derek has recycled and he might be forced into it again if Graeme Shinnie decides to make that move. He has a produced and Aberdeen team that has constantly challenged at the top end of the league.

“Will he get second place this year ? He has had four and that is good going. That is how you measure a manager, over a period of time in the league. If he was to do it this year on the back of Rangers’ increase in resources it would be impressive. Even if they finished third, I think it would still be a good season for him.”