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Lennon Miller faces 'exciting but nervous' time as he considers next move

Lennon Miller faces 'exciting but nervous' time as he considers next move

STV News2 days ago

Lennon Miller's dad says it's an exciting time for the Motherwell star as he considers his future but admits his son is nervous about choosing his next move.
Lee Miller, who played for Aberdeen, Dundee United and Falkirk among others in a long career, says all the boxes have to be ticked to give Lennon the best opportunity to continue developing.
The 18-year-old was Motherwell's stand-out player this season, captained the team and won both major Young Player of the Year awards before winning his first Scotland cap in the recent friendly against Iceland.
His star has been on the rise for some time, and it's expected that he will leave Fir Park this summer to take the next step in a career that could take him to the very top of the game. New Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has already said that he is planning for life without the midfielder.
'I think as a footballer and parent of a footballer, there's always decision to make,' said Miller. 'Lennon's next move is so important.
'A lot of players will get sucked into just moving to a massive club and saying 'I've arrived'.
'But there needs to be, and there has been, a lot of thought process about his next move because it's a development move again.
'Everything so far has gone to plan, and it's what we kind of planned out for him in terms of playing lots of games for the first team and doing well. And it's on him. There was a pathway there for him at Motherwell.
'The next one is so important. He has to play. He has to develop. He has to then kick on again.
'I think everybody saw that with Scotland. No disrespect to Motherwell players but once he's round about better players, top-class elite players, he can kick on again in my opinion.
'I think he has that inner belief. And it's not arrogance, just a belief.
'He just wants to play football.'
Miller said Lennon has remained calm amidst all the speculation, and hasn't let the focus affect his game. And while Motherwell haven't received any concrete offers for the midfielder yet there are stories in the media about his future almost on a daily basis.
'He's back to Motherwell on Monday,' Miller said.
'Nothing has happened as yet. Yes, there's speculation and talk on Twitter etc but it's a different club every day.
'It's quite funny watching it and seeing how it's progressing but essentially nobody has made any bids for him
'Yes, he would like to further his career down the line but we'll just need to see what happens.'
He acknowledged the number of players now plying their trade at top-level clubs across Europe and wouldn't rule out following in those steps. But most important is finding the right place to continue playing on a regular basis.
'It's so difficult to say 'This club are interested, that will be a good one for him',' he said.
'Is that a good environment for him to be in? Is there a pathway?
'Are you going to play there? Are there players ahead of you?
'There's so many different things that come into the equation. There's so many different layers.
'Listen, clubs have been interested in Lennon since he was 14. There's always been talk and people wanting to take him here, there and everywhere.
'We've always had a focus on stay at Motherwell, do your time, and see where it takes you from there.
'So it's exciting times but also really nervous.
'You want to make the right decision and give him the best advice.
'But ultimately it's his decision at the end of the day.'
Lee Miller appeared courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL Title Sponsor.
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Major update on Motherwell star Lennon Miller's future as dad Lee says he's got ‘preferred choice' in mind
Major update on Motherwell star Lennon Miller's future as dad Lee says he's got ‘preferred choice' in mind

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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEE MILLER has revealed son Lennon has his heart set on a move abroad. Both Celtic and Rangers have been credited with an interest in the 18-year-old Motherwell star, who earned a Scotland debut earlier this month after a stellar season at Fir Park. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Motherwell star Lennon Miller Credit: SNS 4 Lee says Miller wants to follow Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour's path Credit: Getty 4 Lee watched on as son Lennon played for Scotland against Iceland Credit: SNS But former Aberdeen and Hearts striker Lee believes Lennon wants to follow the likes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson to the continent. Lee said: 'His preferred choice would be abroad. He's not just going to go to a club for the sake of it. "It needs to have the right environment and the right manager at the right club. 'Lennon's not bothered with the money side of things — he wants to go and progress his career and then kick on again. 'I don't know what that'll be. But it needs to be a place where he can then grow again. 'The next move for Lennon is so important for his development.' The Well starlet will have plenty of options this summer, with English Premier League new boys Sunderland the latest club to be linked with the teen. Italian side Udinese and Belgian cracks Union St-Gilloise had bids rejected in January. While some youngsters are sold on a glamorous name, Lee believes Lennon will make the smart choice when it comes to picking the right club to stay a first team regular. He added: 'There's a lot of interest in Lennon — it's a new club every day! Stuart Kettlewell on Motherwell poster boy Lennon Miller, learning from Old Firm icons and what his Gers-daft family thought when the Fir Park side won at Ibrox 'In terms of bids going in for him, there's nothing this summer. There were a few bids in January and the valuation wasn't met, so we just had to wait. 'It needs to be the right club. For example, it's all right saying Napoli's an incredible club and they've got amazing players. 'But that's when you need to look at where he fits into that club. There needs to be a space that he fits in and is able to flourish and progress. 'Ultimately he needs to play football. He needs to keep developing because everything has gone to plan so far. 'He's played a number of first-team games and is a recognised first-team player now, although still only 18. 'He's done really well at Motherwell, but it's time for him to move on.' Miller Snr admits the speed of his son's rise has taken him by surprise. The former Scotland striker was delighted to see his boy shine in his first two senior appearances for his country earlier this month. 4 Lennon Miller made his Scotland debut last month Credit: Willie Vass He said: 'Lennon really liked his time away with Scotland and I think Scott McTominay took a shine to him. He bounced ideas off of him and played alongside him and Billy. 'Billy and Lennon complemented each other in the second game — although everybody will say it was only Liechtenstein. 'It was a great end to the season, he's rubbing shoulders with the best players in Scotland. 'I get goosebumps talking about it and hopefully he gets that special move that allows him to kick on.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

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Lennon Miller's dad Lee confirms Scotland star is set to leave Motherwell this summer... and would favour a move abroad
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Lennon Miller's dad Lee confirms Scotland star is set to leave Motherwell this summer... and would favour a move abroad

LEE MILLER has confirmed his son Lennon is primed to move on from Motherwell this summer - with the Fir Park teenager's heart now set on a transfer abroad. The 18-year-old enjoyed a scintillating season in claret and amber, becoming the Lanarkshire club's youngest ever captain and attracting interest from clubs across Europe. This week, new Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou admitted he's working on the assumption he'll lose his star player before the season begins. The Steelmen hope to net upwards of £5m for a talent who recently became a full Scotland international. And while Celtic and Rangers have been credited with an interest in the midfielder, his father - the former Falkirk and Aberdeen striker - indicated that his ambitions lie elsewhere. Asked if he believed Lennon would move in this transfer window, he said: 'I think so, yeah. There's a lot of interest in Lennon. I go on Twitter and it's a new club every day. 'In terms of bids going in for him, there's nothing gone in this summer. 'There were a few bids in January and the valuation of Lennon wasn't met, so it's one of those ones we'll just wait. 'Lennon's on holiday now, he's chilling out, just relaxing, ready for the season coming ahead but who knows where that'll be. No idea.' Miller revealed, however, that his son is likely to follow the recent trend of emerging Scottish talents who've sought to broaden their horizons by moving overseas, primarily to Italy. 'His preferable choice would be abroad,' he added. 'He's not just going to go to a club for the sake of it. It needs to have the right environment, it needs to have the right manager, the right club. 'Lennon's not bothered with the money side of things, that'll come. Obviously, it's a short career and you need to earn money. 'But he wants to go and progress his career and then kick on again. 'So, we'll see. I don't know what that'll be. But it needs to be a place where he can then grow again.' Miller looked set to earn a big money move in January until a hairline fracture of his ankle sidelined him. Since then, he's made his full Scotland debut against Iceland with his first start then coming away to Liechtenstein. With speculation surrounding his now future mounting by the day, his father feels it's better for all concerned if that matter is now resolved. 'A bit of uncertainty isn't great,' he said. 'Although, he just gets on with it, he just plays football, that's what he's there to do. 'He just wants to play football whatever it is, whatever it may be. 'But the next move for Lennon is so important in terms of his development.. His development is key in this.'

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