Pocognoli hands Lennon Miller Scotland recall after World Cup heartbreak
From Merseyside despair to a fresh start
Liverpool is a long way from Boston and Miami. Three thousand, one hundred and ninety-six miles separate Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium from the home of the New England Patriots, the venue that hosted Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti in June.
On a chill evening on the banks of the Mersey on 31 March, the distance to that game was already starting to brew for Lennon Miller. The Udinese midfielder was part of Steve Clarke's squad that faced Japan at Hampden and the Ivory Coast in friendlies across that international break — yet, despite the yearning of supporters for experimentation, Miller did not play a single minute.
The image of him being consoled by his dad, Lee, at the side of the pitch in Liverpool proved a sign of what was to come. Fast forward to Clarke's World Cup farewell against Curacao, and uncapped Manchester United 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher was called up instead of the former PFA Young Player of the Year winner. Miller was then not taken to the World Cup at all.
'It was a difficult summer'
For the Miller family, the snub stung long after the squad announcements.
"It was really difficult. It was a difficult summer," said Lee, a former Scotland international himself. "There's no getting away from it."
"As a family, we had to get round about him. He's been in the game long enough. Obviously, as a player, he's been in the game a few years. But with myself being in the game, just a few words of wisdom and encouragement. And, listen, it wasn't to be for him. Obviously somebody wasn't meant to go to the World Cup for whatever reason. But he just needs to get on with things and knuckle down and work hard."
A Facetime call and a way back in
With change comes opportunity. The Clarke regime is over and Sebastien Pocognoli has stepped up to the mandate for change called for by the Tartan Army. There is a fresh look about the Belgian's squad for the forthcoming Nations League double header, with Miller back in the fold.
The new head coach had already been in touch before making his first big calls.
"It's great to see him back in. And the manager had a nice Facetime with him the day before the squad was announced," Lee revealed. "So real positive on the front foot."
'Developing every single day' in Italy
The 20-year-old, now in his second season with Udinese, is finding consistency after such a huge change. Miller has featured in all five of I Bianconeri's Serie A games, starting in his past two. He also featured heavily in his team's two Italy Cup wins, playing a full 90 minutes against Venezia earlier this month.
It was always going to be a monumental learning curve for the young talent who was first thrust into the Motherwell first team just six days after turning 16. But his dad, who will play for Aberdeen in the upcoming Tennent's Sixes tournament next month, believes he is developing well as he now looks to impress his new Scotland head coach.
"The first season [in Italy is] obviously to try and find his feet, bed in a little bit. This season, he's had more minutes already. So it's been really good," said Lee.
"If anything, he's developing every single day over there. It's a totally different regime, totally different set up, lifestyle. Everything about it has been excellent. So he just needs to continue doing what he's doing there. And hopefully take it in the Scotland squad."