It’s been a while. One hundred and sixty-four days for anyone who’s counting.
For Lennon Miller, life now feels radically different than it did when he last pulled on a Scotland jersey.
Forced to pull out of the squad through injury for the defining World Cup qualifiers with Greece and Denmark, the 19-year-old’s last appearance in dark blue remains a cameo role in the nervy win over Belarus on October 12.
He’d been an Udinese player since completing his record move from Motherwell in the summer, or, at least, he was at the Italian club back then.
The teenager didn’t kick a ball in his side’s first four matches of the season. By the time he rocked up for that double- header, he’d featured in just three games for Kosta Runjaic’s side with a combined 124 minutes of action. And this coming after he’d been the first name on the team sheet at Fir Park since breaking through.
To the uninitiated, it looked like his career may have taken a wrong turn. In reality, it was all part of the grand plan.
Lennon Miller has had to work hard to make an impression at Udinese but is starting to shine
‘They have a structure, they have a way they do things and they’ve done it for many years now,’ his father Lee explained.
‘I think Lennon spoke to Aaron Hickey when he first went over and was in the squad with him.
‘He actually said to him: “Listen, be patient because it might be six months and you won’t be in the team. You might feature now and again once you’re up to speed”.
‘I thought he was up to speed. I thought he was ready and was good enough to play.
‘But they want you to bed in, do your Italian lessons, do this, do that, get used to the whole surroundings and then you’re in.
‘So, we kind of knew that. Everybody was saying: “Listen, why’s he not playing? That’s a terrible move”.
‘All the stuff that comes along with that, it’s just white noise.’
For any player signing on the dotted line at a Serie A club, the commitment to the cause must be absolute. Unless you are already a bona-fide superstar, there’s a process to be gone through before your employers will even consider you ready.
‘Training-wise, he’s doing well, he’s up to speed,’ Miller senior added. ‘He’s bulked out. He’s on a strict diet. He was in Fat Club when he first rolled up there and you’re like, Fat Club?
‘But it’s just a totally different way of looking at a footballer as a person, as a project. He’s their project and we’ve always known that. So, hopefully, he kicks on and plays as much football from now to the end of the season.’
The midfielder is starting to reap the rewards for trusting in the club’s methodology.
He’s made appearances from the bench in the past four matches and is now knocking on the door to start as Udinese seek to move up from 11th place in the table.
‘When he started at Motherwell, he was thrown into the deep end and he kind of never came out,’ his father recalled.
‘He was always a player that played. So, for him right away to just be benched, you’re like, wait a minute…
‘Mentality-wise, he’s had to shift. You just have to think: “I need to work, get my head down, do the programmes”, do your healthy eating, do this, do that and it’s totally changed the way he’s looking at being a footballer.
‘Whereas all he was doing (before) was just going and playing football. There’s so many different areas to it. He gets most of his meals prepared for him because they want to know exactly what you’re fuelling your body with as you’re an athlete.
‘No disrespect to Scottish football, because I don’t think it will ever change. But a lot of managers try to come into the Scottish game and go: “Right, here’s what you’re eating, here’s your days off, you don’t go on nights out, that’s it …”
Miller’s dad, former footballer Lee, says that he has seen a real change in his son
‘You can’t do it with Scottish football. You can’t. Loads of managers have tried and failed miserably. I think because Italy’s a different culture, the food’s better, the coffee’s better, everything, the lifestyle, the weather, I think you can do that over there.
‘They’re just saying: “This is how it is. If you don’t like it, see you later”.’
If Miller is given the chance to remind Scotland supporters what he’s capable of against Japan on Saturday, his father is sure he’ll gain their approval.
‘He played well and showed up really well in a top league in Serie A. He’s had loads of plaudits for that,’ he added. ‘I see a massive change in him. He’s grown up a lot since he’s been away from home.
‘Udine, as a place, it’s just a small city, chilled out cafes, no crazy nightlife or anything like that.
‘Not that he’s interested in that. He’s a quiet boy, enjoys spending time with himself.
‘He believes in himself and he trusts his own abilities. I just think he’s in a really good place just now.
‘Steve Clarke knows what he can do. He’s desperate to be on that plane.’
