Davis delighted with transfer shuffle

Just as he prepared to consign his Ibrox career to a memorable cameo, the £8m transfer of Rangers' player of the year to Birmingham City enabled Sir David Murray, the Rangers chairman, to grant Walter Smith the financial latitude to renovate a ponderous midfield. The fee was quickly redistributed to secure the signings of Pedro Mendes, Maurice Edu, Aaron (on a two-year loan) and eventually Davis.

For the 23-year-old, it was an unexpectedly satisfying end to a fraught - and occasionally miserable - pre-season at Craven Cottage.

"Last year, Carlos was a great player for the club, probably the best in the squad," said Davis, on his second unveiling at Murray Park yesterday. "I would like to think I would still be here even if he hadn't gone but I suppose it his transfer made a difference because the chairman came straight out and said the manager would be able to use the money to bring in more players. In that regard, it helped because, soon after, the clubs agreed a fee for me."

Unable to find BBC 2 Scotland on his Sky remote, Davis was spared the entirety of Rangers' sorry defeat to the Lithuanian champions. As his former colleagues toiled, Davis trudged discontentedly around Fulham's training complex, acutely aware that Roy Hodgson had no intention of elevating him back to first-team favour.

During his summer of uncertainty, Blackburn Rovers attempted to usurp Rangers' interest; ironic, given Archie Knox is assistant to Paul Ince at Ewood Park.

The interest never materialised and, while Davis tiptoed around the speculation, he did concede a waning optimism over the protracted return.

"It took a little while to get it done and you do begin to have doubts when it is on and off," he said. "I heard bits and pieces over the summer but then it went quiet again and it looked as though it might not happen. After going out of Europe, you really begin to think that it won't happen.

"It was a major disappointment and it is a shame for the club to be out of Europe so early but now we have to concentrate on winning the title."

The embarrassing early exit from Europe, coupled with Rangers' cautious bidding in the transfer market, prompted Glenn Loovens, the former Cardiff City defender, to spurn their long-standing advances and join a potentially more glamorous package at Celtic. The early season misfortune, though, had no bearing on Davis' mindset.

"Rangers are a massive club, as big as any Premier League team in England, so that was never a concern for me," he said. "The manager has brought in a lot of new faces since then, the squad is looking strong and we have had a couple of good results to show for it."

Where Davis will be placed in the refurbished midfield is one of the many decisions presented to the coaching staff. In the absence of Barry Ferguson, he is likely to sit beside Kevin Thomson, enabling Mendes to play further forward. Long-term, he is already preparing to resume his responsibilities on the right side of midfield.

"I played the majority on the right last season and enjoyed it," he said.

"It probably helps to be versatile when you see the options the manager has in central midfield now."

Today, Davis returns to the scene of last season's final-day fold. Rangers' 2-0 defeat to Aberdeen was meaningless as Celtic surged to a third successive title with victory against Dundee United at Tannadice. It is put to Davis that losing the league might have offered a masochistic source of motivation for a player acclimatising to the annual two-horse race.

Having reached the UEFA Cup final and winning two domestic cups in his six-month stint, a title win would have left nothing to aim for.

"It is one way of looking at it," he said, not convinced, "but I prefer to take the positives. I really enjoyed myself last season and felt good about coming back.

The fact we are not in the Champions League should make the players more determined to win the title this time around. Pittodrie was a major blow, even though Celtic won their game. There is a great rivalry between the clubs and it is always a tough place to go."

For Davis, today's trip to the north-east represents a symbolic journey for a player relieved to be back in the old routine.

Miller on a high and hoping to build on it Lee Miller, the Aberdeen striker, has spoken of how he gained in confidence towards the end of last season, when he felt he was at last beginning to repay the faith his manager, Jimmy Calderwood, placed in him by offering him a new two-year contract, writes Frank Gilfeather.

Miller scored one of Aberdeen's goals in their 2-0 win over Rangers on the last day of the season as the Ibrox men's title hopes evaporated.

The 25-year-old accepts Walter Smith's team will be seeking revenge in what tends to be one of the season's most eventful fixtures, but believes emulating that result is possible.

"I don't know what it is,"

Miller said. "The fans get up for it, we get up for it; it's just one of those games that seems to spice things up a little bit.

"It's something you look forward to in a season, a home game against Rangers. It's great to be involved in and every one I've taken part in has been a feisty encounter."

Miller, Aberdeen's top scorer last season with a dozen goals, rates Rangers' new signing Pedro Mendes highly but suggested that after sundry changes in personnel over the summer, they may yet be a little unsettled.

"You never know," he added, "we could catch them cold.

Of course, we've got a few new signings, as well, and they still have to gel, although I think they've been doing that in the last couple of weeks.

"Maybe we can catch Rangers out and hope their new players haven't clicked together yet."

Miller also spoke of the benefits to be had from competition for places up front at Aberdeen following the arrival of Tommy Wright, a £75,000 signing from Darlington.

" I think we have the quality in our own team to make an impact," said Miller. "There is a lot of competition for places. Look at the strikers; apart from me, there is Darren Mackie, Chris Maguire and Tommy Wright.

"Competition sharpens up every member of the squad.

It the best thing for everybody."