I LOOK UP TO KT BUT IT’S SO TOUGH TO FIND A WAY PAST HIM
Calvin glad to get a chance but knows he’s competing with one of country’s best
IT’S one thing to look up to Kieran Tierney. It’s another to actually get past him.
Calvin Miller admits he sees the Celtic star full-back as a big inspiration – even though it makes his path to the Hoops first team even tougher.
The 20-year-old left-back enjoyed a rare runout in yesterday’s St Johnstone stalemate as he impressed in only his second start for the senior side.
Miller has high hopes to make the grade at Parkhead after coming through the youth ranks alongside Tierney.
But he knows having one of the best full-backs in the UK in his way makes it one of the most difficult routes in the game.
Miller said: “It’s difficult when you have someone like Kieran in front of you because he has done really well.
“I was playing a year above myself so I was in the same age group as him and we went to school together. We have always been close, he’s a good mate, so I’ve watched what he’s done and his performances.
“I’m back-up so I just have to work hard then hopefully I will keep getting opportunities like this.
“If they come along then all you can do is come into the team and try to make an impact then see what happens.
“I’m training with the best people in the league so you can only become better. I’m learning from KT and the rest of the lads every day.
“It was a tough game today. When you’re training away and then just get thrown in it’s hard.
“My last game was months ago because you need consistency, that’s a big part of playing and especially at a club like Celtic.
“I thought I did okay so all I can do is keep working hard and hopefully I will get another chance.”
It’s just Miller’s luck he has Tierney for company in the left-back role – especially as the 20-year-old was originally an attacker.
Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers could see potential in the youngster as a wing-back who was a perfect understudy for the Scotland star.
Miller said: “I’ve only been playing this position for a year so it’s still new to me and it’s tough. I’m learning about it and putting hard work in.
“The manager wanted me to become a full-back, we didn’t have a left-back against Man City so I went there.
“I was decent on the ball and stuff but defensively I struggled a bit because I hadn’t played it before.
“I’m working on that, I’ve become more aggressive because you need that playing full-back or wing-back.
“It’s a new position but I’m getting better at both sides of the game.
“It is a kind of wing-back role he is asking me to play and I’m enjoying it.
“I’ve played a lot of different positions, I was a striker when I was growing up. I was one of the most attacking players in the development league so I was quite surprised to be turned into a defender.
“But when you play in a Celtic team you are usually dominating other teams so you’re high up the park.
“I like to attack so it’s good for me because it allows you to get forward.
“It’s good to have a variety of positions you can play, it helps you make progress.
“If the gaffer needs me somewhere else I will happily go in and do the job.
“It’s good if a manager knows you can play a few different roles in the team.”
Miller was determined to make an impression against Saints and didn’t let
the side down. He slotted in without any fuss and was always ready and willing to get up the pitch.
Celtic might have been a tad flat in between European games but this match gave Rodgers the chance to let some of his fringe men get valuable game time while a few got the cotton-wool treatment ahead of the Zenit return leg.
Miller made the most of his chance and admitted he’s desperate for the chance to get out on the pitch.
McDiarmid boss Tommy Wright revealed the youngster could have been lining up for St Johnstone if a loan bid had come off.
Miller said: “I was aware they wanted me at Christmas time.
“There’s a big squad here, a lot of players, so I was going to be going out on loan. But we got a few injuries so the gaffer told me he wanted me to stay closer to the squad.
“He just told me to work hard and that’s how I got my chance today because I’ve been doing that.”
Saints frustrated Celts for the second time this season by adding another point at Parkhead. It was a low-key afternoon in Glasgow’s east end and Miller admitted the Hoops were not firing on all cylinders.
He said: “We started off well then invited pressure on to ourselves a bit because we didn’t give ourselves enough options when we were on the ball.
“The pitch had a part to play as well. It was heavy and digging up but that’s no excuse.
“I thought in the second half we were better and could maybe have put the game away.
“But it was just one of those ones where you don’t get beat so you put this game away and move on to the next one.”
It’s good to have a variety of positions you can play, it helps you to progress CALVIN MILLER