Kenny Miller ready to impress new Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha
Kenny Miller accepts he has to prove himself all over again as he aims to impress new Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha.
Previous boss Mark Warburton had called for the board to hand the 37-year-old striker a new contract but Miller realises he is back at square one ahead of the Portuguese manager's first game in charge against Hamilton at Ibrox on Saturday.
Miller was reported to be in the frame for the local coach in Caixinha's backroom staff but the former Scotland international is keen to extend his playing career.
And he knows he has to perform at his best if that is to happen at Ibrox beyond the summer.
"The manager has been appointed a week ago so it's important we get down to work and earn it," said Miller, who is Rangers' top Ladbrokes Premiership goalscorer with six strikes.
"You have got to earn it, so that's what I will be looking to do between now and the end of the season.
"I think that goes for everybody, whether you have got a contract or you are out of contract. For me, I have got to prove I am worthy of being in his team and his squad. That's where my focus solely lies at the moment, and that starts in his first game on Saturday."
Caixinha was eager to stress his knowledge of Hamilton at his first pre-match media conference - highlighting Ali Crawford as the danger man - and Miller believes he will get to grips with Scottish football in no time.
"He is a smart, smart man, a real football man, so I am sure he will be looking at the opponents in real depth and I'm sure he will get to grips with the game soon enough," he said.
"Football's football but every coach and manager has their own way of working.
"It has been different but that's not unexpected when a new manager comes in. The boys have adapted quite well, are really enjoying it. The focus is firmly on getting three points on Saturday and then we have a couple of weeks where we can put some serious work in."
Rangers defender Rob Kiernan remains suspended but Joe Garner returns from a ban.
Midfielders Jordan Rossiter (calf) and Niko Kranjcar (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Greg Docherty, meanwhile, is hoping some "honest conversations" will help Hamilton stop leaking goals.
Accies lost 4-0 at Hearts last week after being thrashed 6-0 by Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup in their the previous outing
Martin Canning's men sit only one point ahead of bottom side Inverness as they prepare to go to Ibrox again, with Docherty hoping recent problems have been solved through frank dressing room discussions.
The 20-year-old midfielder said: "To lose 10 goals in two games is never good enough. From our perspective that is nowhere near where we want to be.
"That is not the form we should be showing. It has been difficult the last couple of weeks.
"We have had a lot of honest conversations. It needed to be done.
"It cleared the air a wee bit and we know that form is not good enough if we want to stay in this league."
Midfielder Darian MacKinnon returns from suspension but skipper Michael Devlin is a major doubt with a calf strain.
Forward Alex D'Acol is on his way back from an ankle injury, with defender Dan Seaborne returning after missing the last match due to family issues.
Source: PAR
