Kenny Miller insists he won't allow contract talk to knock him off his stride

The player is in the scoring form of his life and he yesterday collected the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month for August award. He has accepted the burden of responsibility which has fallen on his shoulders following Kris Boyd's departure during the summer. Like his old striker partner this time last year, he is managing to avoid being distracted by transfer talk in what is the last year of his contract. But Miller will wish to keep this run of form going in the second half of the season. Boyd's contribution was harmed by on-going talk of his future. Miller, however, is happy just to keep his mind on finding the net. "I've not had any decisions to make," he said. "I'm just glad the window is shut. I've been getting goals and am just looking forward to the next game. Comments have come from others about my situation - not me.

"I haven't talked to (chief executive] Martin Bain about my contract for a while and I don't know what the thinking is about new deals (at Rangers]. I don't have any plans to sit down and talk at the moment. Boydy had it for the whole of the year last season and that might have affected him towards the end. But I won't let it bother me."

It certainly hasn't so far. Miller was linked with moves to English Premier League clubs last month and was even rumoured to be on his way to the Middle East. But since scoring in Rangers' opening league fixture against Kilmarnock he has barely looked back. He conceded that an element of fortune helped him get off the mark, with Kilmarnock's Jamie Fowler having seen his clearance rebound back off Miller into the net.

"I've not enjoyed a better start to a season with six in four games," he said. "I've never scored one like the first one - someone hammered it off my back and it went in! The team is looking to improve, but in terms of my goals then it's been great (so far] for me."

Miller had to take a back-seat in midweek as he watched his team-mates give a masterclass in defending. He still contributed his usual supply of energy to the cause but was isolated in attack for long spells. Like his manager, he is unconcerned about the criticism meted out to the side from some quarters for their tactics against Manchester United. Miller argued that a different approach could well have seen them lose heavily, and risk a savaging from critics at home. "I haven't read any of it, but what kind of result would ensure you got no stick?" he asked."A 2-1 defeat? Would that have been OK? If we'd been beaten 3-0 we'd have been caned by critics in Scotland. Let me tell you that 0-0 at Old Trafford is a fantastic result for anyone. Obviously people will say it's negative, but do we go and play like Braga did at Arsenal and lose 6-0?

"I'd rather play the way we did," he added. "It wasn't an enjoyable night for me, I hardly got a touch, but I'd rather the team got something out of it and kicked off the Champions League campaign with a good point than to play a different way and get hit for six."

Miller is the ideal person to ask about the tactic of packing the defence and playing with just one up front. For both club and country he has perfected the art of operating as the lone striker. He hasn't always enjoyed being pushed up by himself but is likely to perform this role for Scotland next month, against Czech Republic and Spain. It is a formation which has already reaped success for Scotland. "The French results get the focus because we won both home and away 1-0," acknowledged Miller. "But if you look at any of the games - Italy, Germany, Holland - that's how we played. You need your 'keeper to have a good night or defenders to block everything."