Walter Smith yesterday urged those Rangers supporters who have protested at Kenny Miller's return to the club to get behind the striker on the eve of what should be the former Celtic and Derby County striker's competitive debut at Ibrox since being re-signed by Smith in the summer.

Miller, who has been the subject of abuse on some fans' websites and in stadium chants since his return to Rangers was first mooted back in March, was booed on the club's recent pre-season tour of Germany. Smith yesterday indicated that he hoped this was the action of a small section of diehards, and that the wider Rangers fan-base would come round to support Miller, starting this evening when Rangers play FBK Kaunas at Ibrox in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie.

Among some Rangers supporters the usual doomed campaign had been under way to try to prevent Miller's return, with many supporters objecting to his status as a former Celtic player. From other supporters came the claim that Miller simply wasn't good enough for Rangers.

Smith, in his faintly refreshing way, has appeared unperturbed by it all. “I don't mind supporters making their judgments about players - that's what supporters do,” the Rangers manager said yesterday. “So if supporters don't like a player for what to me are proper reasons, then that's fine. But if the reason for some people not liking Kenny is because he played for Celtic, then, speaking personally, I thought those days were past. They are for me. But if that is not acceptable for other people, then there's not a lot I can do about that.”

Ally McCoist, the Rangers assistant manager, recently described some Ibrox fans as “a bit blinkered” in their disapproval of Miller's return. And Smith yesterday insisted again that there were good football reasons for the striker's return. “If the player has been here before and some think that he is not good enough, then that's fine,” he said. “But that's not my opinion, and my opinion matters. I think Kenny Miller will be good for the team. That's how I look at it.

“These supporters have to realise that I've got an opinion as well, and I see Kenny as a player who, right now, given the manner that we play, can help the team. All I can do is what I'm paid to do, which is, hopefully, win football matches. I wanted to sign Kenny and, in my mind, for where the team is at the moment, I think he'll do well for us. That's the only thing that matters to me.”

Rangers will be without Carlos Cuellar, who has a calf injury, as well as Barry Ferguson, a long-term absentee. However, Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch, both of whom have had knocks, will be fit to play. Kirk Broadfoot is expected to replace Cuellar beside Davie Weir in central defence, though Smith remained cagey about his personnel yesterday.

The Rangers manager, as ever, is also wary of Kaunas, a physically strong side who, unlike his own team, are halfway through their league campaign and already competitively attuned.

“Central defence is certainly Broadfoot's preferred position, and where he has played most of his football in his career,” Smith said. “His attributes are more towards that, so he can certainly go in and play at centre-half.

“Kaunas are a decent side. They've got a capability to get goals, they are very dangerous at set-plays and in their wider deliveries, and they've also got a physical presence about them. They are not a team that sits back, they are prepared to get up the pitch and have a go. So we are aware they could be very dangerous.”