How Lennon Miller showed he is 'humble' after senior Scotland snub as Steve Clarke resists escalating pressure

The Motherwell starlet has proven he is a rising star with his showings for the Steelmen so far this season

Lennon Miller proved how humble he is by asking to play for Scotland Under-19s in this week’s Euro qualifiers, according to boss Neil MacFarlane.

The Motherwell starlet has been widely praised for his displays this season and is viewed as the next big talent to come out of Scottish football. The midfielder has been tipped for a call-up for Steve Clarke’s full squad after a Man of the Match display for Scotland Under-21s in Kazakhstan last month where he scored a wonder goal.

But Clarke resisted pressure to call him up and urged fans to allow Miller to develop at Fir Park. He was instead named in MacFarlane’s squad for three upcoming qualifiers against Wales tomorrow, Liechtenstein on Saturday and France next Tuesday, with the Under-21s not playing this month. And MacFarlane – who will combine his role as new Under-19s boss with his current position as head coach of Brentford B – was full of praise for Well starlet Miller.

He said: “Listen, he wanted to play. He’s a really, really good boy, he’s having a terrific season. Lennon is a very humble lad. He’s performing really well and Motherwell deserves a lot of credit as well.

“They’re putting their young players into the team at such an early age and he’s really benefiting. It’s step by step developing young players.

“And if he continues on an upward trajectory hopefully one day we’ll get him there. That’s part of my role in this job, to get them progressing into the 21s, which he’s done. And then to get them progressing through to Steve’s team.

“But you also have to remember that our first team, the standard of players that are playing in the middle of the park are playing week in, week out in the English Premier League and the Scottish Premiership.

“It’s a case of just being calm. That’s what I’ve always had a great belief in with working with young players. You stay calm with them and work with them relentlessly.

“With a good attitude, which he has got, then hopefully one day that moment will come. It’s a real testament to his attitude, how humble he is that he wants to play. But he’s also realistic that he knows he’s got to keep progressing. There’s a long, long way to go.”