MILLER PAYS THE PRICE

BANISHED from the first team, Kenny Miller was putting on a brave front yesterday when he turned out for Rangers Under-20s in a win against Brentford’s B team. The experienced striker appears to have fallen foul of manager Pedro Caixinha’s stubborn streak and paid the price for

apparent leaks from within the Rangers camp.

He missed out completely on Friday night’s 4-1 win over Hamilton but stuck to his task in London yesterday, helping the Ibrox youngsters to a 5-2 victory.

Miller was also due to miss out on this week’s trip to Toronto where Rangers were scheduled to meet Benfica on Friday evening. But the Portuguese side pulled out on Saturday night — leading to growing frustration within Ibrox at the cancellation of the trip.

Rangers issued a tersely-worded statement on the matter saying they were still looking for a full explanation of the reasons behind the late call-off.

And last night Benfica broke their silence to claim that Elite Soccer Entertainment, based in the Canadian town of Brampton, had not fulfilled their contractual obligations.

A statement read: ‘The 2017 Eusebio Cup scheduled to be held with Glasgow Rangers was not possible because of a breach of the contractual commitments established by Elite Soccer Entertainment, who promoted this game, within the terms and deadlines set.’

Elite Soccer Entertainment have apologised to Rangers but have yet to furnish the club with a full explanation for the cancellation.

Rangers’ two-goal hero Declan John, meanwhile, believes Portuguese talisman Daniel Candeias has shown the unity that exists within Caixinha’s squad.

The winger made a point of running to his manager to celebrate after adding to John’s double in the 4-1 win at Hamilton last Friday.

Defeat to Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season the previous Saturday resulted in a stormy meeting at which Caixinha is believed to have left his players in no doubt that many were not performing to the required standard.

The Portuguese manager sought to downplay the axing of Miller from his matchday squad against Accies but the fact the striker travelled with the Under-20s to play Brentford yesterday called that into question.

However, on-loan Cardiff full-back John believes the way Caixinha was embraced by his players at the Superseal Stadium puts any suggestion on unrest to bed.

‘Yeah, of course that was telling,’ he said. ‘We don’t go into any game looking for anything else other than a win.

‘Obviously the boys played well, I managed to get two goals, we got another two after that and it was a really good win.

‘The celebration after Daniel’s goal wasn’t planned, it was something that just happened.

‘It’s been fine. We knew we needed to come into the game at Hamilton and show we are together and that we are up for it. I think we did show that.

‘We definitely owed the manager a performance and that’s what we did.’

Asked to sum up the atmosphere within Caixinha’s squad, John replied: ‘We are all together in there.

‘Before training, we are all together — whether that’s in the canteen or in the changing room, having a joke or whatever.

‘After training, we might all go for a coffee together or stuff like that. All of the boys are together.

‘It wasn’t difficult to focus. You focus on every game you play in and that’s exactly what we did.’