Frail: Hearts defenders will run a mile from Velicka and Miller

Jun 15 2008 Exclusive By Gordon Waddell

STEVIE FRAIL last night warned the SPL's defenders that non-stop Andrius Velicka and Kenny Miller could be their worst nightmare if Rangers make them their striking dream team.

Ex-Hearts hitman Velicka will become Walter Smith's latest recruit today and his signing comes just two days after former Rangers and Celtic ace Miller was lured back to Ibrox.

And the man who knows Velicka best reckons the SPL's stoppers will be left chasing shadows as both men are more than capable of giving teams the runaround.

The Jambos sold Velicka to Viking Stavanger in February but the hitman still ended the campaign as Tynecastle's top scorer with 14 goals in just 18 starts.

And departing gaffer Frail said: "He's top quality and Rangers will be getting a forward with a real eye for goal.

"He's one of these guys you always fancy to score when he is around the box.

"He takes the ball so quickly and catches keepers out all the time. He has this kind of toe-poke finish with no back-lift that he specialises in.

"Everyone could see his ability last season when he finished our top scorer despite leaving in February.

"Andrius scored three against Celtic and one against Rangers in the space of six weeks which shows he can do it against the top teams.

"The two he got when he came on as a sub against Celtic to put them out the CIS Cup were top drawer.

"But he also works hard and has real strength of character.

"That was summed up for me when Velicka dislocated a toe in a game and refused to come off. He was a really good influence in our dressingroom and it was a blow to lose him."

Hearts' loss has proved to be Rangers gain though.

The Jambos never saw a penny of the s450,000 fee paid by the Norwegians for their loan star, the cash going straight to FBK Kaunas.

Gers had to cough up s1million to prise the player away from Stavanger with the Norwegian side's boss Egil Ostenstad - a former Ibrox player - driving a hard bargain before agreeing to let his star striker leave.

But Frail reckons it will be money well spent and that the Ibrox club will have the makings of a class double act after the s1.9m deal for Miller.

He said: "I'd never begin to guess Walter's thoughts on how he uses players or who he picks especially as he still has Kris Boyd as well.

"But Andrius can play in a pairing or up on his own if that's what Walter needs.

"We used him that way a lot and he grafts to hold things up and links the play well.

"He's a serious test for defenders.

In fact if he played alongside Kenny, defenders just wouldn't get a minute to breathe.

"The way they both make the centre halves and full-backs work for everything, I can't imagine anyone would enjoy facing that."

Frail also believes Velicka has the ability to step up a grade to the Champions League.

He said: "He's an international player with Lithuania who are a decent side - there's no reason he can't cope with European football."