I'm Scared I'll Be County-Ed Out Of Our World Cup Says Kenny Miller

Feb 10 2008 By Mark Guidi

KENNY MILLER reckons competition for places in the Scotland team during 2010 World Cup qualifying will be so strong he could be left out.

The striker's form in the past three years has virtually guaranteed him a starting slot under Walter Smith and Alex McLeish.

But he starts afresh with George Burley and Miller fears dropping down to the English Championship with Derby next season might not be good enough for the new Scotland boss.

Kenny said: "The level of player in the Scotland squad is now so high and we have guys such as Craig Gordon, James McFadden, Alan Hutton and Scott Brown moving for millions and doing well.

"It means the lads are all playing at a high standard and there will be fierce competition for places in the national team.

"That's ideal for the manager and means the players need to produce consistently.

"Derby are adrift at the bottom of the Premiership and Paul Jewell is a realist. It's a big gap and we've only won one league game.

"Playing in the Championship next season is the last thing I'd want."

Burley is Miller's fifth manager at national level and the hitman believes she has taken over at the perfect time.

He said: "We look back to the last campaign and there's not much more we could have done. We had some great results and took it all the way to the last minute. "It was heartbreaking to go out after beating France home and away and finishing with 24 points.

"Ultimately, defeat away to Georgia cost us but that was one of few negatives. We came so close in a group that seemed impossible. We're now more experienced and will be ready for the qualifiers in September.

"We are stronger and better equipped to take on the best in the world and get positive results.

"Holland will be favourites to qualify from our section but we'll have no fear against them.

"Last time we went to Holland we lost 6-0 in Amsterdam. That won't happen this time.

"We want to go a step further than the previous campaign. After we lost to Italy it felt like all the previous games had been for nothing. I suppose there were positives in that we moved up a couple of pots in the rankings.

"We've definitely improved and feel we will not be far off when things come to a head.

"I'm also looking forward to working with George. He had a fantastic record at Ipswich and the people at Derby still talk highly of him.

"He has already put his own stamp on things in the Scotland squad and we all hope he can take us a to a new level."

Apart from one or two friendlies between now and the end of the season for Scotland, Miller will concentrate on Derby and wants to help stop them finishing bottom on the lowest ever points total.

Sunderland are the unfortunate holders of that record with 15 points in the 2005-06 season.

Miller said: "Billy Davies signed me for Derby and I was disappointed when it came to an end for him. I knew the script when I came here but didn't realise just how tough it would be.

"We are a big club and the fans have been on our backs which they've every right to do as our performances haven't been good enough.

"We're adrift at the bottom and hope we don't end up on the lowest points tally in Premiership history.

"We're trying to stay positive but we all know what lies ahead."