Despite Kenny Miller's recent reported return to first-team training at Rangers after a fall-out with the Rangers manager, the fact remains that his start to the season at the Ibrox club has been less than ideal.

He'll forever be regarded as a fantastic Light Blues player, but now 37 years of age, this season could just be a step too far for the former Scotland international. His ten appearances so far this term have been well below par and he's only scored one league goal since April.

His recent bust-up with Pedro Caixinha hasn't helped matters but the truth is that there are now multiple more exciting options than the veteran forward for Rangers fans to look forward to.

Caixinha's team have four big matches in October - an away match against talented St Johnstone, a huge semi-final against Motherwell, a vital mid-week encounter against Kilmarnock and a testing trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts.

It's vital the Portuguese gets his team selections correct and these are the THREE alternatives to playing Miller...

Give Ryan Hardie more of a chance

Ryan Hardie is a Rangers youth prospect who has quietly been gaining vital first-team experience over the last couple of seasons. He's made 51 appearances in the Scottish Championship since 2015 on loan at Raith Rovers and St Mirren, scoring 17 goals in the process. The forward is now on the fringes of the Rangers first team and pushing hard for more regular games under Pedro Caixinha.

The 20-year-old has already featured for the Light Blues this season, being brought off the bench against Hearts in August, but has not been able to find his way back into Caixinha's plans.

Since then he's been working hard in U20s matches, even scoring a hat-trick just last week away to Brentford in a friendly bounce game. Also involved in the Scotland U21 squad, he's fast becoming a real prospect and there are worse options than giving him a real chance in the starting eleven now Kenny Miller is out of favour.

Persist with Carlos Pena

Another option for Pedro Caixinha might not be the most popular, but could still be worst persisting with. Carlos Pena has had a strange start to his Rangers career, taking three months to make his debut, scoring a couple of goals but generally putting in the kind of performances that have left Light Blues perplexed as to why the club signing him.

He's not an out-and-out forward in the manner of Kenny Miller, but plays a deeper role in midfield. This arguably gives Rangers a more solid formation and more dynamic options in the final third, the Light Blues are creating more chances when the Mexican plays.

That not may be entirely down to him, but playing with the central striker in Alfredo Morelos and supporting him with attacking midfielders does seem to be paying off. That's not a role Kenny Miller can fulfil and if Rangers are to truly see the best of Pena, perhaps he just needs more matches to adapt to the game in Scotland.

Try and find the Eduardo Herrera & Alfredo Morelos partnership

If Pedro Caixinha wants to keep playing two strikers, then perhaps the most exciting option for fans would be trying to develop the Alfredo Morelos and Eduardo Herrera partnership.

Morelos has been in devastating form this season, netting nine goals in just 12 matches. Herrera has scored just twice, but has been given limited opportunities in the starting line-up. In fact, he's started only once since joining in the summer with the rest of his eight appearances coming from the bench.

Is the time right to give him and Morelos time to strike up a classic striking partnership? Herrera's physical attributes could complement the busy Colombian perfectly and the Mexican has already shown some classy finishing ability with his back-heel against Partick Thistle.