I'm planning for life WITHOUT Lennon Miller at Motherwell, admits new Fir Park boss Jens Berthel Askou
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JENS BERTHEL ASKOU admits he's planning for a season that doesn't include Lennon Miller.
The Dane has had two days in Scotland as Motherwell's manager after securing a work permit last week.
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Jens Berthel Askou has been discussing Lennon Miller's future
Credit: Willie Vass
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The wonderkid has won his first two Scotland caps
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Miller has been constantly linked with a move away from Fir Park
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He's yet to meet midfield starlet Miller, who has been given an extended break after Scotland duty.
But Askou, 42, knows all about him — and the likelihood a big-money offer will prise him away this summer.
He said: 'It would be naive to say, 'No he's staying, we're not planning without him'. That's how it is when you have a player with so much attention.
'Right now, he's here — even though he's away on a bit of a holiday — and as long as he's here, we'll work with him and we'll plan with him here.
'But we also know there might be a possibility the right move and the right opportunity for him at the top will come.
'Then we are prepared to do something, like we are in other situations if we lose players to an injury or we sell them.'
Well rejected bids for Miller, 18, from the likes of Union Saint-Gilloise and Udinese in January.
Askou said: 'I haven't met Lennon yet because he's got these extra days off. It would be fair to meet him first and have some discussions before I answer any specific questions about his future.
'Is there interest in him? Probably, but it's not been top of my mind today so I probably need to get the update myself.
'I know he's a fantastic player and he's just gone into the national team. He has a big profile in Scottish football and for sure he's going to have a fantastic international career.
Motherwell players celebrate Lennon Miller turning 18 with birthday cake supplied by Scottish Sun
'We'll see if it's going to be this summer that he will take the next step. I know the rumours and I know there was a lot of discussion and expectation, which he's created by performing really well.'
Askou's pedigree for giving young players a chance was one of the things that made him attractive to Well chiefs.
He handed 26 teenagers their debut across five-and-a-half years as a boss, with 19-year-old Victor Froholdt the latest prospect he's worked with during his most recent role as Copenhagen No 2.
Askou added: 'It's important to get young players into the team. You see the benefits when you look at Lennon, and I saw it in Copenhagen.
'They have a 2006 player who is now the best in the league. He's played for Denmark and is probably going to be sold for a record sum in Danish football.
'I love seeing young people develop and thrive. It's one of the reasons I thought this job was interesting.
'The weight of the academy is big.
'Some of the players might start in the school around the corner then end up at a big European club when they're 20. It's fantastic to see people fulfil their dreams.'
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