Kenny Miller, the Scotland forward, has left Derby County and joined Rangers in a £2 million deal. The 28-year-old is returning to the club seven years after he left to join Wolverhampton Wanderers and Celtic. Miller is the first player to leave Rangers and have a spell with Celtic before returning to Ibrox.

Miller said his decision was a “no-brainer” despite opposition from many Rangers fans. He said he was desperate to be reunited with the former Scotland management team of Walter Smith and Ally McCoist.

“I'm delighted - the smile has yet to go off my face,” he said. “I'm over the moon, it's taken a bit longer than I expected but I'm absolutely delighted.” Adam Pearson, the Derby chairman, had revealed Miller was not interested in discussing offers from other clubs once Rangers declared their interest.

Miller said: “It was never in doubt. When I spoke to the manager [Smith] about it a lot of things go through your mind but the chance to come back to a club like this and work with the manager and coaches that are here was a no-brainer for me.

“When a club like Rangers comes calling, it's always going to be hard to knock that back anyway, I worked with the manager and assistant manager with Scotland, just really added to it for me.

“I get on really well with Walter and Ally, both on and off the field, and I felt they got the best out of me for the national team. Hopefully, that will continue next season.”

Smith added: “I believe that Kenny has matured into one of the best strikers Scotland currently has and I feel he will be a terrific addition to our squad.”

Miller believes he is returning to Ibrox a much improved player. “I'm 28 years old now, I feel a lot more experienced and a lot more confident coming to a club like this,” he said. “You always want to progress and get better throughout your career and when you play in the Champions League and international level, you have got to gain some experience. I feel I am coming a far better player than when I left.”

Miller expects to settle in easily given the number of international team-mates at the club. “It's not as if I'm going to a new club blind,” he said. “I know a lot of the lads here - I know how they play and they know how I play.”

One of those fellow Scotland players is Kris Boyd, the striker, top scorer at Ibrox with 25 goals last season despite failing to hold down a regular starting place.

And Miller is keen to forge a partnership that can benefit club and country. “The manager has got to pick the two of us in the team first, but I have played with Boydy before and it worked well for the national team,” Miller said. “Hopefully, if we play, I'll be able to do all the running for him and he can score all the goals again.”