Lennon Miller hot topic in German media as Michael Wimmer reveals pre Motherwell buzz over 'wunderkind'

Eintracht Frankfurt's interest in the Fir Park star meant he was big news in the homeland of the new Well gaffer

Michael Wimmer knew all about Lennon Miller before he first set foot in Motherwell - thanks to the German media’s spies.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s interest in the Motherwell ‘wunderkind’ meant he was a hot topic in the new Fir Park boss’ homeland.

And now Wimmer has had the pleasure of working with the 18-year-old – who won a surprise first Scotland call-up this week – he knows exactly what all the fuss is about.

Well hope to rake in a record fee for their academy product when he eventually moves on from ML1.

And Wimmer insists he’s known for a while that he would inherit someone special.

He said: “Yes, I knew. There was a rumour as I came here – Frankfurt. I read this in the German newspaper. You heard this name, you heard it often, so I had a feeling, a picture about how Lennon is.

“I watched games and got information from Motherwell. You saw him playing and could see he’s an interesting player. Interesting also for my style.

“I think it’s always a dream for a manager if you have players who want to work like Lennon. All the guys here want to work but it’s always up to them.

“If they want to work hard, they have the chance to reach something. If it’s national team, if it’s to go in the top five league, perhaps, I don’t know. It’s always up to them.

“I worked in academies and I know many young players who had great talent but they didn’t like to work. They only rely on the talent as enough but it’s not enough. Then they land in League 4, League 3. If you work and have talent, this is a great combination.”

Wimmer has experience of nurturing prodigious talents on the continent.

As assistant at Stuttgart he got to see Argentina ace Nicolas Gonzalez develop before moving to Fiorentina, while Sasa Kalajdzic and Enzo Millot also came through at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

And Wimmer reckons Miller is cut from the same cloth as he prepares for his first taste of full international football when Scotland face Greece in next week’s Nations League play-off double header.

He said: “Yes, similar. This is not a gift. The Scottish national coach doesn’t say, ‘hey, you’re Lennon, you can come to the national team’.

“You have to deserve it and you have to work hard and you have to have the attitude to want to improve and to want to develop. You have to give the manager the chance to develop you.

“There are also guys who say they know everything they want from me but Lennon is open and has the willingness to get better each day.

“Sasa, Enzo or Nico, they are guys who work hard and have the aim to be in the national team. It’s the greatest thing, to represent your country.

“Lennon deserved it. I’m very proud of him and the whole club is proud of him. He worked hard and he has talent.

“But talent alone is not enough. Lennon knows this and has the right attitude. I’m looking forward to seeing him in this great jersey.”

Motherwell are out to make it three wins on the bounce and build on a stunning victory at Ibrox last time out when St Mirren visit this afternoon.