What should the Rangers team for St. Mirren be?

Same again, says Matthew Lindsay

KENNY Miller staked a strong claim for his inclusion in the Rangers starting line-up in the Ladbrokes Premiership opener with St. Mirren at Ibrox on Friday after he came on against Peterhead yesterday.

The former Scotland internationalist took his goal – which made the scoreline 2-0 and killed off any hopes the visitors had of grabbing an equaliser – superbly after some fine work by James Tavernier.  

The 35-year-old had come off the bench in the Petrofac Training Cup first round match against Hibs at Easter Road eight days earlier and netted a double in a 6-2 triumph.

So there are, unsurprisingly, a large number of Light Blues fans who would like to see Miller involved from the get go against Ian Murray’s men in their first league game of the 2015/16 campaign.

If I was Mark Warburton, though, I would resist the temptation to play the veteran from the start and stick with the side he sent out to take on the Blue Toon in the first round of the League Cup.

Miller is recovering from a calf injury. He is a dedicated professional whose fitness is the equal to anybody else in the Gers squad. Including those half his age. But it is better not to ask too much of him and risk setting him back.

It is a long hard season. There are plenty more games to come in the three cup competitions and in the league.  Miller will get the chance to lead the line either alongside Martyn Waghorn or by himself in due course. He is doing alright as a super sub at the moment.

The team yesterday played well. Barrie McKay and David Templeton will benefit from an extended run in the side. Withdrawing one of them now could dent their confidence and disrupt their form.

 

Mix it up, says Chris Jack

IT would be harsh, and unwise, to make wholesale changes to a side that has scored nine goals in two games and played some incisive, attacking football as the Mark Warburton era has got off to a flying start.

But there is no harm in tweaking things here and there and, as the Ibrox boss is keen to do, allowing everyone in the squad to play their part, even at this early stage of the season.

The positive for Warburton is that he has plenty of options, particularly from middle to front, and he can change the personnel without upsetting the balance or rhythm of  a side that have started the campaign in such impressive fashion.

Jason Holt dropped to the bench on Sunday as Dean Shiels came into the side and the midfielder will be pushing for a return to the starting line-up, perhaps even in place of Nicky Law rather than the Northern Irishman who took his spot against Peterhead.

Further forward, Barrie McKay and David Templeton have been given the nod so far and while they have done well, they could have done better.

 It could mean a starting spot for Kenny Miller, or even a chance to impress for Tom Walsh, the winger who was one of the few silver linings to emerge from the dark clouds of last season.

While Walsh is still a raw talent, Warburton knows exactly what he will get from Miller, who has started the campaign in fine form and scored three goals in two substitute appearances so far.

The Gers boss is keen for his attacking players to be flexible and to be able to operate right cross the forward line and to provide as much of a goal threat as possible.

Chances have not been in short supply for Rangers so far this season but in their biggest game to date it is perhaps time to give Miller his rewards and start him against St Mirren.