Kenny Miller has handed Wolves a real fillip ahead of their opening Premiership encounter at Ewood Park. The 23-year-old Scottish international has quashed any rumours of a move away from Molineux as the gossip mongerers were in full voice after Tottenham Hotspur were linked with the livewire front man and his house was apparently on the market. However, the Edinburgh born forward couldn't be happier with life in the West Midlands as his 26 goals guided Wolves into top flight heaven for the first time since 1984. Miller arrived at Molineux in 2001 for a fee of £3m from Glasgow Rangers and after his first campaign was bedeviled by injuries he showed his real class last season. His career started at Hibernian in 1996 and after a loan stint at Stenhousemuir he signed for Rangers in 2000 for £2m before heading South 18 months later. Ian Clarkson caught up with Miller and spoke to him about his excitement at the season ahead and whether he can recover from his injury in time to play at Blackburn.
Q:JUST PUT TO BED ANY RUMOURS ABOUT YOU LEAVING MOLINEUX. WHAT'S THE STORY?
A:These rumours are just not true. I am delighted to be playing for Wolves. Last year things went really well for me and there is no reason not to be happy after what happened last season. I must stress that I am very happy at Wolves and so long as I am playing football then I will be.
Q:WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT LAST SEASON WAS YOUR BEST EVER?
A:The last 12 months have certainly been my best ever. It was a great season both for the team and me personally with the number of goals that I scored. Finishing off the season at Hampden Park with a goal against Germany in the Euro 2004 qualifier just topped it off nicely.
Q:WHAT IS THE EXACT NATURE OF YOUR INJURY?
A:I had a double hernia operation after the Germany game in June. I needed to have it done and I have had treatment at both the club and Lilleshall Hall. It is touch and go whether or not I will be fit for the start of the season. I spent a week at Lilleshall and my guess is that it would be 50-50.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS FOR THE SEASON?
A:My first ambition is to get fit and back playing again and, once I am, hopefully I can get back into the team and look towards maintaining our Premiership status. If we can achieve that goal then it will be looked upon as a successful year. On the international front I want to stay in the Scotland squad, keep playing well and look towards the possibility of Euro 2004.
Q:IT ALL SEEMS A LONG WAY FROM STENHOUSEMUIR WHERE YOU SPENT A SPELL ON LOAN IN 1998?
A:I spent three months on loan there, but it was purely as part of my education as a young lad to go and play games. I went back to Hibs the following season and played regularly. Even though it was the Scottish Third Division and a far different level to what I am at now, I needed it at the time.
Q:WHAT DID PLAYING AT THAT LEVEL DO FOR YOU?
A:Although it wasn't a brilliant standard, it toughened me up as it is a hard old league and gives you experience of playing at first team level week in and week out.
Q:HAVE YOU ANY PREFERENCE AS TO WHO PARTNERS YOU UP FRONT WHEN YOU ARE FIT?
A:To be perfectly honest I don't care who partners me as long as I am playing. I had successful spells with George Ndah and Nathan Blake last season as they were the two I partnered the most, but I honestly don't care who it is as long as I have got the other shirt.
