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SMITH REVEALS MILLER HOPE
Miller - misses out for Scotland on Saturday.
Kenny Miller could be fit for Rangers' next game, manager Walter Smith has revealed.
The striker pulled out of the Scotland squad for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Norway with a hamstring injury.
Miller had an injection this week, which he hopes will clear up a problem that first flared up a month ago.
If it works, the 28-year-old will be in Smith's plans for next Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dundee United.
Smith, who revealed earlier this week fit-again skipper Barry Ferguson might also be considered for the Ibrox encounter, said of Miller: "He played on Sunday but the injury has been aggravating him for quite a while.
"Hopefully the injection will clear that and he'll be ready for the game against Dundee United."
Smith will be hoping the club's other internationals return from playing for their countries unscathed next week.
The former Scotland boss admits it is "frustrating" having so many away at one time, especially as he is still stewing on Sunday's shock SPL defeat at St Mirren.
"When you take into account we have 15 away, plus our injured players, it only leaves us with a handful of players to try to train," he told the Rangers website.
"It's not an entirely satisfactory situation but it's one that happens. Every club that has international players suffers from it.
"It's no excuse - it's just a little bit frustrating.
"Sometimes, if you get a good result before then you don't bother too much but if you get a poor result, you want to get out and get everyone back together again as quickly as possible."
Two of those players are USA stars DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, whose country play two World Cup qualifiers against Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago in the coming week.
Victory in the first match would ensure they progress from their group, rendering the second game meaningless.
Smith would love the pair to return early if that happens but said: "We're at the mercy of international people in that respect.
"The Americans have quite a few players playing in Europe at the present moment, so if you leave some out, you may need to leave them all out and that will leave them with a major dent in their group of players.
"It's something when you sign an American player, you know you're going to lose them for internationals.
"The amount of travelling they have to do - the same as South American players - is just part and parcel of football at the present moment."
Meanwhile, Smith believes victory for Scotland against Norway on Saturday is crucial to their own qualification hopes.
"I think that the home matches will be vital for them," he said.
"They had two away games; one successful one, one not so successful.
"So I think if Scotland can win at home, it will give them a really good chance."
