KENNY Miller, the Rangers striker, admits he has never had any regrets about returning to Rangers for a third spell as he prepares to face his old club Celtic this afternoon.

The 36-year-old, who was at Ibrox in 2000/01 and between 2008 and 2011, was brought back to the club by Ally McCoist in 2014 to help haul the Glasgow club back up the divisions. While it has been plain sailing this season, his first season proved to be a tumultuous period.

Not only did the manager who brought him to the club lose his job, but Rangers failed to win the Championship or promotion via the play-offs, while off-field matters continued to hang over Rangers.

For Miller, these issues have faded into insignificance over a rip-roaring few months. The forward has bagged 18 goals this season on the way to the Championship trophy and Petrofac Training Cup, and, speaking ahead of today’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic, insists the experience has made him enjoy the good times more, a period he hopes will continue this afternoon and beyond.

“At no point did I ever regret coming back,” said Miller. “I wanted to come back and play my part in getting the club back to where we belong. It didn’t go according to plan last year, and there were some tough moments, no doubt about it. Being a Rangers player and getting the results we were at some points, it hurts and it hurt everyone.

“But again that’s in the past. We’ve had a fantastic season. I’ve read a lot about the guys who were involved at the start of the journey and you’ve got to pay your respects to them as well. It was a tough time to be involved as a player or at any level. The people who’ve played their part deserve huge amounts of credit for the job they’ve done.

“So yes, it was tough last year, but this year’s more than made up for it. It’s been a great year and hopefully it can finish off even stronger.”

The legendary Mo Johnston is in Glasgow this weekend for this afternoon’s match and spent his Friday opening up about his experiences on both sides of the Old Firm divide. Miller has also had the opportunity to play for both clubs.

For little over a year, the former Scotland internationalist played in green and white stripes, before returning to blue 10 months later, and even scored in his first derby on the Celtic side of the fence. That 2-0 win on September 23, 2006 was a far more enjoyable experience for Miller than the one he endured last February when he didn’t even get a shot against the Parkhead club in the League Cup semi-final. Rangers fans are expecting more of their team this time around, a fact that is not lost on the man leading their line.

“That goes without saying,” he said. “There’s a real belief within these walls that we can go and get the right result. The fans, everyone involved in the club; there’s a real belief that we can achieve something special this year, which would be a great first year for the manager and Davie [Weir]. 

“The lads love the brand of football we’ve got, and that’s led to a real sense of optimism going into this game.

“For me, it’s purely about this one. If we get beaten, it’s not going to say we’re not ready to win the league next year. If we win, it’s not going to say we are going to win the league next year.

“It’s an opportunity for us against the best team in the country at the moment to go and show how far we’ve come. 
To show that we are capable of competing against the best teams in the country. That’s what the game’s going to show.”