The last thing Wolverhampton Wanderers need at the moment is transfer speculation regarding one of their most important players - Kenny Miller has delivered with impeccable timing.

Even though most people at Molineux are embroiled in a battle to win promotion from the Championship, the Scotland striker has already turned his attention to next season and a possible move back to his former club Rangers or their Premier League rivals Heart of Midlothian.

Miller, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has spent the last 12 months on the transfer list, has said that he would seriously consider an approach made by either club and suggested that a deal could be hatched as early as January, when the transfer window reopens.

"If Hearts and Rangers really are keen, I would consider any offer they made seriously," Miller said. "I'm free to speak to any interested club in January."

Miller might have moved to Sunderland before the season started but Glenn Hoddle, the Wolves manager, rejected two offers - thought to be about £1 million - for a forward who could fire Wanderers into the Premiership.

But with the former Hibernian man able to leave for nothing next summer Hoddle may not be able to resist cashing in on one of his prize assets.

The possible destinations don't bother him, either, even though Hearts are his former club's local rivals.

Miller said: "George Burley has done an amazing job at Tynecastle and Hearts could be in the Champions' League next season as reigning champions of Scotland.

"The fact I used to play for Hibs does not really come into it. My mates have been on the phone to say you can't possibly sign for them - but I have been away from Hibs for a long time and better players than Kenny Miller have managed to play for city rivals and cross the divide in the past."

He would have no problem returning to Ibrox, four years after he left, saying: "I think every Rangers fan knows I didn't want to leave the club four years ago.

"I am no quitter and I believe I had something to offer Rangers. I had scored against Monaco in the Champions' League and scored five in a game against St Mirren to equal the SPL record. I was still only 20 and learning. But the club offered good money for me and I can understand why they felt they had to accept at the time. That's business and there's no way I would ever hold it against Alex McLeish or Rangers.

"At the time, it was made clear that I wasn't going to play regular first-team football and Rangers were good enough to be totally honest and up front with me."

Meanwhile, a back injury has ruled defender Rob Edwards out of Wales' World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Saturday. He suffered a knock in last Friday's 1-0 home loss to Burnley and is hoping to recover in time for the match against Azerbaijan a week tomorrow.