GLASGOW (AFP) - Rangers will not be making too many changes during the January transfer window - according to Walter Smith - but the Ibrox boss refused to rule out a move for ex-Celtic striker Kenny Miller.

After watching his side win 2-1 at home to Hearts, the former Scotland manager responded to various rumours about which players would be leaving and arriving at the Glasgow club next month.

Players reported to be on the way out include Belgian midfielder Thomas Buffel, Gabon international striker Daniel Cousin, Kris Boyd and French-Algerian Brahim Hemdani.

And Miller, who has played for both Old Firm clubs - most recently leaving Celtic to sign for English Premiership strugglers Derby in August - could be making a swift return to Glasgow, so the rumours go.

When asked if the Scottish international striker was set to make a sensational return to Rangers Smith side-stepped the question and insisted there would not be wholesale changes made.

The Rangers manager said: "There are a lot of players leaving and according to the newspapers on Saturday we'll not have anyone left by the end of January.

"So we'd better bring someone in if everyone else is leaving.

"I'm not going to comment on who is going or coming but there will not be too many either way, maybe one or two."

On Saturday Rangers ensured they kept up the heat on Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic with a vital home win over Hearts.

However, they required a goalkeeping error to score a late winner against the Tynecastle team.

Rangers had opened the scoring in the 18th minute.

Lee McCulloch took advantage of hesitation between Robbie Neilson and Portuguese defender Jose Goncalves to race in and clinically stroke the ball into the corner of the net beyond Lithuanian goalkeeper Eduardas Kurskis.

In the 55th minute Hearts drew level when Andrew Driver's free-kick into the box found Lithuanian striker Andrius Velicka completely unmarked and he dispatched a fine header beyond Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

But just as it looked as if the Ibrox side would have to settle for a draw they were gifted a second goal in the 86th minute.

Alan Hutton's shot from 20-yards deflected into the path of McCulloch but his mishit shot looped into the air and should have been easily saved by Kurskis.

Instead the ball squirmed through the hands of the Hearts goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Rangers now face a difficult four game sequence over the festive period with three away matches at Aberdeen, Hibernian and Celtic, and one at home to third placed Motherwell.

The Ibrox side's victory on Saturday moved them to within two points of Glasgow rivals Celtic and, having played less games than their greatest rivals, could move into the driving seat in the race for the title if they can win these four matches.

Although Rangers have only won three of their six away games in the SPL this season - having lost to Hearts and Dundee United and drawing at Motherwell - Smith is confident ahead of what could be a crucial period of the season.

He said: "We're going through a difficult spell of games just now and Saturday's was just one we were happy to get a win and then forget about.

"The away games we have coming up are not ones that scare me as we've had some reasonable performances on the road recently.

"We lost at Hearts but it was still a decent performance so we're in good shape."