Lennon Miller emotional moment with dad after Scotland call-up as Motherwell wonderkid looks to trump cap tally

Fir Park wonderkid admits he couldn't believe he'd got the Scotland call at just 18 - but now he's in he's desperate to stay there

As a starry-eyed kid Lennon Miller grew up in awe of his dad’s treasured Scotland cabinet that showed off his caps and strips.

But now the Motherwell ace reckons it’s time that shiny display made way in the Miller household - as the door opens to a second international career in the family.

The 18-year-old was a surprise call-up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for next week’s Nations League play-off double header with Greece. Should he win a first cap he will be well on the way to catching dad Lee who made three appearances for his country against Japan twice and Argentina between 2006 and 2009.

That’s the target for the ambitious youngster. And nobody would be more proud to see him do just that than his old man.

Miller said: “Dad was a wee bit emotional on Tuesday. He found out before me. He got the email saying I was in the squad and he messaged me. In terms of big moments in football, he can be quite emotional, but it’s not a usual thing for him.

“He was just saying how proud he was and telling me to try to take everything in, learn as much as you can, and hopefully there's a few more squads in the future.

“There's a few of his pictures in the house that I've been having a look at recently. I’ll hopefully get a few more caps than him.

“He's got a whole cabinet of Scotland stuff - so that'll get moved to the side! Hopefully mine can get put in there. You see them in the house, and you think that's what you work hard for. That's what you work for all your younger years.

“To get it at such a young age is an added bonus. But I'm just really looking forward to it. It's going to be a crazy experience, even watching so close from the bench. If I'm lucky enough to step on the park, it'll just be a learning curve for me, and hopefully I can take some of this stuff into the future.”

Miller revealed how his dad’s old Aberdeen team mate Richard Foster - now U18s coach at Motherwell - had the honour of delivering the good news on Tuesday after training. Not that he believed it at first. Then came the texts - floods of them - including from Scots hitman Lyndon Dykes who misses out on this camp through injury

Miller said: “I’d got pictures taken with my Scotland flag to get ready for the U21's camp. After training on Tuesday, Richard came over and said ‘congratulations’. I was still a bit like, ‘congratulations on getting the 21s?’ I went over and checked my phone, and it was obviously the A squad.

“I don't think it sank in yet even, but it was a proud moment. It’s been pretty hectic. My phone was blowing up all Tuesday. Lyndon Dykes sent one. He’s played with my dad, so it was nice to hear from him.

“I got back from training and went through a few and then I thought I'll just leave it for a later date. It's obviously nice people recognising you, but I had to take a wee break for that.”

Miller's form in the Well engine room has seen him captain the side already this season. It has also brought interest from some of the top leagues in Europe with Udinese having a £2.5m bid booted out in January. Celtic, Eintracht Frankfurt, Brighton and Southampton have all also been keeping tabs on the Well Academy product who the Steelmen are confident will rake in a record fee.

Miller came through the Scotland age groups from U16s to U21s with Ben Doak who made a sensational break through into Clarke’s top team in the Nations League campaign that now leaves Scotland with a Greek double header to save their top flight status. Doak will be missing through injury. But Miller hopes to make enough of an impression that he too now becomes a permanent fixture in the A squad.

He said: “Yeah you obviously get the first one and it's emotional, you're just happy to be in it. But you want to be in as many squads as you can, you want to keep your strip, and obviously there's a lot of youth in this squad. Hopefully that's looking towards the future.”