Pedro Caixinha has welcomed Kenny Miller back into Rangers’ first-team fold despite a high-profile dispute.
Pedro Caixinha has developed a reputation for being something of a ruthless dictator since arriving at Rangers in the spring. After all, he did compare himself to none other than the devil.
There was something a little less satanic, however, about the resolution of the recent Kenny Miller dispute. According to the Daily Record, Caixinha turned on the fans’ favourite in the aftermath of last month’s Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic, accusing the club’s homegrown players of not making the club’s new foreign signings feel welcome.
He was also understood to be less than impressed when Miller assumed the armband after coming off the bench against Celtic, believing it to represent a lack of respect for the manager.
And when Miller was axed from Rangers’ squad ahead of their trip to Hamilton before the international break, instead forced to travel with the Under-20s, it appeared that the 37-year-old’s 17-year association with The Ibrox giants would end in the least fitting fashion.
Problem solves
After all, other senior Rangers players likes Rob Kiernan and Harry Forrester discovered that, when Caixinha banishes you to the reserves, you’re usually past the point of no return.
Imagine the supporters’ surprise, then, when Miller was pictured in training with the first-team last week. And the veteran forward even scored in a behind-closed doors friendly with St Mirren at the weekend.
You can expect Miller will line up against St Johnstone when the Scottish Premiership resumes after the international break. And this could perhaps indicate that Caixinha is a little desperate.
This is the first time he has handed out a second chance after a dispute. And it is surely no coincidence that his tone has changed when dealing with a fans’ favourite and the clubs’ top scorer last season.
Kiernan, Forrester and co were heading for the exit anyway. But Miller remains integral to Rangers and Caixinha’s hopes of keeping the job long term.
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