Scotland midfielder opens up on World Cup dream.
Lennon Miller believes his decision to join Scottish football's Serie A contingent by signing for Udinese has transformed him both on and off the pitch.
Linked to Celtic, Rangers and a host of clubs in the English Premier League, the 19-year-old former Motherwell midfielder had significant interest in his services last summer, but opted to join the band of Scots in the Italian top flight by signing a five-year deal with Le Zebrette in August.
One of seven Scotland internationals currently playing in the Serie A, he has started six of the last 10 games at Stadio Friuli, featuring prominently in Kosta Runjaic’s side since the turn of the year. Having now fully settled in at Udinese, Miller is hoping to emulate the likes of Napoli’s Scott McTominay by taking his club form to the international stage, as he looks to seal a place in Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad this summer.
Lennon Miller is hoping to form part of Steve Clarke's squad for the World Cup in North America this summer.placeholder image
Lennon Miller is hoping to form part of Steve Clarke's squad for the World Cup in North America this summer. | SNS Group
“The physical side of the game I had to improve on,” he told BBC Scotland. “But also my understanding of the game, different game plans, different formations. You're training with players of real quality everyday and you're playing against some of the best players in the world. I feel like I've definitely, definitely got better.
"Living myself, I've really enjoyed. I've really grown as a person. It was the first time I'd been out the family home. My family are over all the time, which is nice. Every time we play against one another, we speak after the game and swap shirts. All the boys have been brilliant when we've played against them."
“You want to be in every squad. [The World Cup is] a dream and one that we maybe didn't think that we'd get the chance to do. It'd be a very special moment and one that hopefully I can be a part of.”
Meanwhile, reports claim Tottenham Hotspur are ready to reignite their interest in Scotland skipper Andy Robertson this summer, despite failing in a bid to lure him to North London in January. The Liverpool left-back, who turned 32 on Wednesday, is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the current campaign and has been linked with a potential return to the Scottish Premiership with boyhood club Celtic.
After dropping down the pecking order with Milos Kerkez’s arrival last summer, Spurs submitted a £5million January bid in order to lure Robertson to North London. However, the veteran defender chose to remain on Merseyside, confirming last week, “there was obviously interest, and discussions had with both sets of clubs. But the decision was that I wanted to stay.”
Liverpool's Andy Robertson has been loosely linked with a move to Celtic this summer.placeholder image
Liverpool's Andy Robertson has been loosely linked with a move to Celtic this summer. | SNS Group
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With Robertson not expected to be offered fresh terms by Liverpool, it is claimed that relegation-threatened Spurs will look to renew their interest in the Scotland international in the summer, with the club ‘keen’ on signing him on a Bosman free transfer.