I agree with Steve Clarke’s snub of Lennon Miller, there’s no reason to rush him

BEN DOAK has shown that age is only a number for Scotland this week.

The 19-year-old Liverpool wonderkid lit up Hampden on Friday night against Croatia and helped inspire Steve Clarke‘s men to a 1-0 win.

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He’s viewed as the next generational talent to come out of Scotland and one youngster who isn’t far behind in terms of hype is Lennon Miller.

The son of former Scotland international Lee Miller, the Motherwell starlet is being tipped to far exceed his father’s total of three caps for the national team and transfer speculation has linked him with big-money moves to Celtic or Rangers or further afield.

However, he’s yet to be included in a senior squad by boss Clarke, despite him playing week in, week out for the Steelmen.

Indeed, he’s been in such food form of late that he was named Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for September.

But Miller was instead was called up for the Scotland Under-19s, captaining the side in a 1-0 loss to Wales before being left on the bench for the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein.

Clarke said when discussing Miller: “He’s another young one that everybody wants to hype and push.

“It’s important to let young players grow. Let’s just allow Lennon a little bit of time and space to grow up at Motherwell.”

BBC pundit and former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart said he totally agreed with Clarke’s decision to resist the clamour and not call Miller up.

He believes Scotland’s current midfield is simply too full at the moment to rush Miller in, despite him being talented enough.

And he brought up Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan as someone else who could feel hard done by to not be included.

Speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, Stewart said: “I am in full agreement with the manager.

“Is he capable of being in the Scotland squad? Yes.

“But there is more than enough quality in there. Age doesn’t really come into it because I think he is capable. There is no point in pushing it when there is all the quality there.

“You look at Ben Doak, the age is irrelevant, but we need that type of player in the team, so get him in.

“But with Lennon Miller, I don’t see the urgency or the rush. His time will come.

“But there is more than enough quality in there.

“I know it’s a different debate because Luke McCowan is older and he’s not playing every week for Celtic. But he is another one who has the quality to be in the Scotland squad. No question for me. It’s one of the strongest parts of the squad.”

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