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Miller a 'fine player' but 'needs time & space' to develop

Tom English answers your questions
[BBC]

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions on Motherwell.

Derek asked: What have you made of Motherwell this season? Do you believe we can sustain our form to finish in the top six? And do you think Motherwell can keep a hold of Lennon Miller for this season?

Tom answered: On Miller, I suspect yes. Maybe not beyond the season, but I suspect yes. I hope yes. He's terrific, but he's not the only one.

There's been so much talk about Miller, understandably. I hope people aren't putting mad pressure on him. I know Stuart Kettlewell won't be because he's a very responsible and impressive manager.

But there seems to be, and I've seen it a million times before, a desperation among us in the media to suddenly anoint a boy wonder. And you can see there are reasons to anoint Miller as a boy wonder, because I think he looks a fine player, but he's still a kid and he needs time and a bit of space.

There are loads of players in the history of Scottish football who have been trumpeted as the next big thing and they don't quite do it. It's not all about ability. It's about ability and mentality.

Miller and Ewan Wilson, mainstays of this Motherwell team, it's part of the reason why I really like Kettlewell's side. Part of the reason why I like Kettlewell. He has an amazing ability to find players.

His goalkeeper is excellent. They don't score a lot, don't concede much, they're a tightly controlled team, a compact side. They might go two or three games without a win, but then they'll bounce back immediately. They're a very resilient side.

Top six wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.