BACK in the team, back in the old routine. Kenny Miller’s return to the Rangers side as captain following the departure of manager Pedro Caixinha was as much a triumph for the veteran striker as it was one in the eye for the erstwhile Ibrox manager.

Two goals, an assist and a tireless performance from the 37-year-old made more of a fool out of Caixinha and his selection policies than any of his whimsical pronouncements about caravans, vampires or Las Vegas ever could.

It may sound strange to describe a performance from a man of such advanced years in footballing terms as livewire, but that is exactly what it was. And a lacklustre Hearts outfit, albeit beset by injuries, just couldn’t cope with him.

“Kenny is a massive player for us,” said Rangers defender Danny Wilson, himself returning to the fold not so much from the cold as from the frozen tundra, for his first start in almost six months. “He is a big influence on the dressing room and everyone saw here what he can bring to the team. He scored two fantastic goals.

“His contribution hasn’t really changed throughout everything, he’s always been working hard and I’m delighted for him that he’s come back in and scored important goals. We were all satisfied with the performance – and with him scoring two goals why wouldn’t he be satisfied?

“To a man we battled hard. We won individual battles and we won collective battles. We got a really big three points.”

That they did, but they had to show bottle to battle back from behind to claim them.

Rangers had started the brighter, but had struggled to create anything clear cut despite their territorial advantage. Hearts had been solid at the back without doing anything going the other way, but as soon as they started to creep forward, the makeshift Rangers defence began to creak.

It was a moment of inexperience from Ross McCrorie that cost Rangers the opener, the young defender needlessly fouling Isma Goncalves 25 yards from goal. Former Ibrox man Kyle Lafferty still had plenty to do, but he stepped up and curled a beauty into Wes Foderingham’s top right- hand corner.

Hearts should have doubled their advantage moments later as Isma played Ross Callachan through on goal with the Rangers backline all over the place. Foderingham managed to produce a fine diving save to deny the boyhood Jambo though, and you sensed that may be an important juncture of the game.

The huge Rangers following were screaming for a penalty when Daniel Candeias nipped in front of John Souttar with Jon McLaughlin advancing outside his area. The Rangers winger got a toe to the ball to force it on to the Hearts keeper, but referee Craig Thomson judged the block to have come from his chest rather than his hand after consulting his assistant.

Rangers were level before the interval though, and it just had to be Miller who got the goal.

Alfredo Morelos showed he has good strength when he stays on his feet, collecting a ball from McCrorie and holding off Christophe Berra before slipping a reverse pass into Miller’s path as he ran into the area.

The striker drew McLaughlin before getting a shot away that connected with Souttar before looping over the keeper and into the net.

The second half started in scrappy fashion with neither side making much headway, but there was no prizes for guessing who stood up to make the difference. Miller ghosted between the Hearts centre-backs to meet a gorgeous cross from James Tavernier and plant a header past McLaughlin before running to celebrate with the 14,000 Rangers supporters behind the goal, who welcomed him back with open arms.

Not content with his two goals, Miller then provided a delicious assist, as his long ball with the outside of his right foot found Josh Windass, who cut inside and fired home low past McLaughlin to wrap up the points.

For Hearts, injuries continue to take their toll. The 16-year-old Harry Cochrane and 19-year-old in Lewis Moore formed the basis of their midfield, and while the youngsters tried manfully, they were ultimately over-run by their more experienced opponents.

And when Jamie Walker limped off with a hamstring injury shortly after half time, the wheels started to come off.

“Once Jamie Walker got injured I thought the whole thing fell apart and I put it solely down to that,” said Hearts boss Craig Levein.

“We had worked really hard on the system we were playing and it was working really well. He is key in that and we just don’t have anybody else to put in to do the same sort of thing. We were already short of four players.”

A few minutes from the end, Miller took his leave, with the blue wall behind the goal rising as one to acclaim his contribution. How they’ve missed him.

A beat of the chest as he walked off and a warm embrace with Graeme Murty spoke volumes, although his manager, for now at least, was keen for others to share the spotlight.

“You know what you’re going to get [from Kenny] - but it wasn't just about him, it was about the team,” said Murty. “Kenny will be the first say his goals were part of good team play.

“I’m pleased for him that it was him who put the ball away, but we have players of quality who can go and do it for you. The shift he put in for the team was excellent as well though.”