Miller in great position to learn from brilliant Celtic teammate Tierney

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The young Celtic left-back played as an attacker for most of his youth career but he has found himself re-learning the game as a full-back.

Calvin Miller, 20, made his fourth appearance of his Celtic career against St Johnstone on Sunday, brought in by the manager in place of Kieran Tierney, 20, to allow the young star to rest.

Miller, the same age as Tierney, was close to leaving the club in January on a loan deal. However, due to Celtic’s defensive injury problems, Rodgers opted against allowing the youngster to leave.

Having played most of his youth career in more advanced positions on the pitch as a forward or winger, Miller is re-learning the game at left-back and believes there is no better place to do so than as Tierney’s apprentice.

Despite being the same age, the two players have experienced contrasting starts to their careers, with Tierney becoming a first-team regular as a teenager and Miller’s appearances being reserved for a few cameo features here and there.

Nevertheless, the 20-year-old academy graduate is still enjoying life at Celtic and is happy to be learning from someone he describes as the ‘best in the league’.

Speaking to the official Celtic website, Miller said: “I just need to keep working hard. Kieran is the same age is me and he is doing really well and I am happy in the position I am in. I am back-up and I will just keep working hard and getting wee opportunities like this and hopefully become a better player from it.

“I am training with the best people in the league so I will only become better, and I have learned from KT and all the boys in the squad. I watch what he does in his performances. I have only been playing this position for a year so I am still learning and I am doing that every day.”

With Miller as the only out-and-out left-back understudy to Tierney, the youngster actually has a decent chance for some playing time on the pitch.

Using Anthony Ralston as an example, the youngster has featured on a number of occasions this season in place of regular Mikael Lustig, and Miller should be aiming for much of the same.

With fellow academy graduates such as Ralston and Tierney to look up to, Miller will not be short of inspiration as he continues developing as a full-back.