LEE WALLACE predicts Kenny Miller will make a fine coach or manager when he finally calls it a day and hangs up his boots.

He just wouldn’t like to put a timescale on when that might be. Miller’s ability to defy the ageing process continues to fly in the face of conventional science.

Having turned 37 at the end of the year, the Rangers forward not only doesn’t look any older, he doesn’t play like it either.

While the rest of us gradually succumb to the aches and sprains that make it almost impossible to get out of bed of a morning without the aid of some convoluted pulley and lever contraption, Miller is still running freely around top-flight defenders like a particularly dexterous gazelle. It is quite the thing to behold.

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Rangers have called upon Miller to intervene at various crucial points during his three stints at Ibrox and it was a similar story on Saturday. Behind to Motherwell and staring instant elimination from the William Hill Scottish Cup in the face with just six minutes to play, Miller did his thing. His equalising goal was a well-placed header from a Martyn Waghorn cross, the winner a composed finish after being picked out by a piercing Emerson Hyndman pass. It was typical Miller, the sort of thing he was doing 10, 15 even 20 years ago.

He is out of contract in the summer and conventional wisdom would suggest there ought to be no rush to offer a new deal to someone who will be 37-and-a-half by then. It seems different with Miller, though. He doesn’t want to leave Rangers but it is not hard to imagine another Premiership club offering him a home if that contract doesn’t materialise. Club captain Wallace hopes it doesn’t come to that.

“Obviously there is contract stuff going on and this can sound like the old pals act with me saying we need to keep Kenny long-term but it’s far from the pals act,” he said. “As long as we keep Kenny Miller at this club we’ll continue winning games and hopefully bring success back to the football club. Our young players are going to learn and develop and trust him and learn from him and speak to him every day – and I put myself in that bracket. I think it is hugely important that we keep him.

“He’ll get a wee bit annoyed when we keep referring to his age but I think, age aside, the way he conducts himself, the way that he trains, that’s now a given. I’ve said many times that has to be the way we all look at ourselves and we all look to try and apply ourselves.”

Miller and Wallace have both already begun the transition into coaching but the defender hopes his team-mate does not make it a full-time arrangement for some time to come.

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“He’s a student of the game, the way he talks about football, the way that he’s involved with the under-20s, the way me and him sit and talk day in, day out on tactics and looking to make things better and making improvements and working close with the manager,” said Wallace. “You’ve got a ready-made coach there but hopefully in a few years’ time. We’re not talking about next week or next month but that transition is there for his career.”

While Rangers can continue to dream about the possibility of another extended cup run, there was nothing but despair in the Motherwell camp after surrendering a lead with just six minutes to go and then failing to even land a replay.

Louis Moult’s header after 74 minutes appeared to have delivered what would have been one of the shocks of the fourth round only for poor defending to undo all their good work. The overall mood in the aftermath was one of shock – manager Mark McGhee was almost lost for words – and Moult admitted it was a sore one to take.

“Is it as stunned as I’ve seen the manager? It’s up there,” he said. “It was silent in our dressing room for 20 minutes and I’ve never experienced that before. The boys had heads in hands and the dressing room wasn’t a nice place to be. There were a number of people emotional, not just the gaffer. But that shows what it means to us.”

Moult has been linked with a number of clubs down south in this window and admitted he was unsure as to what the future might hold.

“I’m happy playing my football and we’ll see what happens. I’ve always said you play your best football when you are happy and Motherwell have given me that chance.

“It’s all about playing and I’m enjoying it. Motherwell is a fantastic club and I love playing for them. You can see that in my passion, but we’ll see what happens.”