Calvin Miller was denied the chance to leave Scottish Premiership champions Celtic on loan during the January transfer window.
Brendan Rodgers has shown a willingness to give youth a chance throughout his managerial career but, try as he might, exciting Celtic talent Calvin Miller is yet to truly force his way into the coach’s first-team plans.
The 20-year-old has made just two Scottish Premiership appearances all season, the most recent coming at the weekend as a much-changed Celtic side stuttered to a disappointing home stalemate with St Johnstone.
Miller did not even last the 90 minutes, subbed off with 10 to go for Kieran Tierney as the Hoops chased a winner that never came.
While a rare start in the first-team should appease the former Scotland U17 ace, it remains to be seen how patient he is willing to be in his pursuit of a more regular role in Rodgers’ starting XI.
Miller told the Daily Record that he was hopeful of leaving on loan in January, only for an injury crisis to force Rodgers’ hand and keep the versatile left-sider at Parkhead. However, Miller has quite a substantial barrier to the first-team – the 5ft 8ins figure of Kieran Tierney.
The fellow 20-year-old is arguably the biggest talent in Scottish football and has barely missed a minute for Celtic all season. He has made 43 appearances in all competitions and his consistent excellence is the main reason why Miller has found chances hard to come by.
Unfortunately for Miller, boyhood fan Tierney is not going anywhere either, having signed a six-year deal in October.
So it is difficult to figure out where Miller fits in at Celtic. For now, it seems that the odd cameo appearance here and there is the best he can hope for.
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