Hardie one of the best about, praises Miller

LEE MILLER, the Livingston attacker, has hailed Ryan Hardie as one of the most gifted natural goal-scorers he has ever worked with as he aims to renew his fruitful partnership with the on-loan Rangers striker.

The duo scored a combined 10 goals in the second half of last season as the Lions roared to promotion, with the physicality and wily link-up play of Miller providing the perfect foil for Hardie’s pace intelligent movement.

Persistent injuries to both players meant that Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Hibernian was the first time they have lined up alongside each other in the top-flight this term.

The reunion is a mouth-watering prospect for the 35-year-old, who has nothing but praise for his young colleague (below), whose delightful dinked finish in that draw at Easter Road took his tally to four goals in three outings since recovering from serious ankle damage.

“He’s up there with the best finishers I’ve played with and if he can keep himself injury free then he’s got a big future,” lauded the former Middlesbrough, Aberdeen and Bristol City frontman.

“Ryan scores goals. It’s what he does. He chases lost causes, works well in a two and just knows how to put the ball in the net. I hope I can have that partnership with him again. I just need to keep plugging away, working hard and see where that takes me.

“We just clicked last season. He is always in the right place at the right time and can sniff out a goal from nothing.

“He does it every day in training so it’s not a fluke.”