Yet the answer to this conundrum is probably quite simple. Miller is at his best when his team are under the cosh, when there are prairies of space upfield for him to gallop into in speedy sorties at the opposition. This is the modus operandi of Scotland but Celtic are a completely different proposition. They are expected to pin the opposition back. In consequence, there is less space for Miller to move into and in these confined areas his touch can sometimes betray him.
His habit of moving around so quickly means his control has to be sharper than those of a more static disposition.
It is a peculiarity the Old Firm must consider when they are signing forwards. A few years ago Rangers rejected the chance to sign John Hartson for around £6m then paid double that for Tore Andre Flo. The Norwegian was a deft player but if you were watching a showreel of his best bits for Chelsea, you would have noticed many adroit finishes at the end of rapid counter-attacks in European games. Hartson could not have kept pace with such movements but as a fixed focal point for sieges in the Premierleague he was far better value. When the ball went into a packed penalty box, there was always a good chance that he would emerge from the ensuing scrum with his arm aloft and another goal on the scoring record he was so proud of.
The signing of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink means Miller is no longer certain to start for his club, having become vital to his country. The Dutchman provides the attacking presence to play off that Celtic have lacked since Hartson’s departure this summer. It is easy to imagine him and Maciej Zurawski forming a productive partnership in the league with Miller becoming a substitute. Yet Europe may offer solace to the striker. He caught Gordon Strachan’s eye, and that of some of Serie A’s finest, when carrying the fight to Italy at Hampden a year ago. Although it was a home game, it was essentially a rearguard action after Miller put them ahead and it suited him perfectly. His phenomenal workrate harried Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro to distraction. It was a performance that will live long in the memory, not least Strachan’s as he prepares his team for their visit to Old Trafford this week.
Meeting Miller on Scotland duty last week revealed an intelligent and mature character, happy to discuss the praise and criticism he has received in the same measured manner. “I feel I have been really contributing to the cause, giving everything I’ve got to the team,” he said. “I’ve had a hand in quite a few goals but as a forward you are always judged on scoring and that’s the thing that hasn’t happened for me yet. I’ve had a couple of chances when I know I should have scored but outside of that I’ve not had a lot.
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“You could go back to when I missed that chance in the San Siro for Scotland and then the one against Belarus but I was there to miss them. You are going to miss chances but the bottom line is that Celtic have still been winning games. If I’m missing chances and we’re not winning then maybe he’s got to pull me out, but I’ve come away and scored a couple for Scotland and hopefully that will kickstart me and I’ll manage to get back among the goals for Celtic.”
Nevertheless, he does not expect Strachan to change from his favoured 4-4-2. “Celtic have set out their stall to play with two up front and that’s not going to change because there are three forwards. The manager has always said it so I knew we were going to bring in other forwards. He’s always wanted four strikers to compete for the places and he’s now got that with myself, big Jan, Magic (Zurawski) and Beatts (Craig Beattie). It’s always going to be two from four but with Jan scoring on his debut he’s probably going to be first choice.”
Strachan has suggested that Miller is too selfless at times, too happy to make the sacrificial runs which open up space for teammates but can go unnoticed in the stands. “I don’t think what I’ve been doing has been ignored by the people that matter and that’s my managers,” he replies, “but I think the fans see what I have been doing as well. I’ve not been scoring and some say that’s the be-all and end-all but I do feel those who matter realise I have been doing a lot of work. I think it’s appreciated by the manager, my teammates and coaches. Everybody says if you work hard you’ll get rewards and they have maybe started to come in these two games with Scotland. Hopefully, after these two goals I can put chances away as an instant reaction rather than thinking about them.”
Miller has already scored in the Champions League, for Rangers against Monaco, and against Manchester United, for Wolves at Molineux, but has never managed a goal at Old Trafford. “I came to Celtic knowing they were going to play Champions League so when you are drawn against Manchester United and teams like that then you can only look forward to them. They can’t frighten the life out of you, you’ve got to put yourself in the firing line and hope to be involved. United have some of the best players in the world, Rio Ferdinand is probably in the top three defenders. I want to play against these guys and hopefully I’ll play a part at some point.”
Back in Edinburgh, closer to Coby, his young son, there is a settled, confident air to Miller. Indeed he is so assured in the company of microphones or tape recorders that he recalls a certain Alistair McCoist. “Super gives you great confidence,” he smiles, when the name of Scotland’s strikers coach crops up. “I might be one of his boys here but it doesn’t apply when I go back, he’s just told me he hopes that the goals dry up again.” Celtic fans must wait to discover if Super Ally, for so long their nemesis, has sent Clark Kent or Superman back to them.