Lennon Miller's Progress at Udinese
Lennon Miller has made 17 appearances for Udinese since his transfer from Motherwell in August. The 19-year-old midfielder believes he has "definitely got better" as a player since moving to Italy and is enthusiastic about the prospect of participating in Scotland's upcoming World Cup campaign.
Having earned four caps since his senior international debut last year, Miller is focused on securing a place in the squad. Scotland is scheduled to face Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil in the United States this June, while manager Steve Clarke will soon announce the squad for two friendlies in March.
"You want to be in every squad," Miller told BBC Scotland.
"[The World Cup is] a dream and one that we maybe didn't think that we'd get the chance to do. It'd be a very special moment and one that hopefully I can be a part of.
"I feel like I've definitely, definitely got better."
Development and Adaptation in Italy
Miller has gained considerable experience since joining the Serie A club, noting that his Italian language skills are improving daily through regular lessons. He highlighted the need to enhance the physical aspect of his game as well as his tactical understanding, including adapting to different game plans and formations.
"The physical side of the game, I had to improve on but also my understanding of the game, different game plans, different formations," Miller explained. "You're training with players of real quality everyday and you're playing against some of the best players in the world."
Living independently has also contributed to his personal growth. Miller shared that this move marked his first time living away from his family home, though his family visits frequently.
"Living myself, I've really enjoyed. I've really grown as a person. It was the first time I'd been out the family home. My family are over all the time, which is nice."
Scotland's Upcoming Fixtures and Italy-Based Players
Scotland is set to play Japan and Ivory Coast later this month. Alongside Miller, several other Scotland internationals based in Italy are likely to be considered by Steve Clarke. These include Torino's Che Adams, Hellas Verona's Kieran Bowie, Sassuolo's Josh Doig, Bologna's Lewis Ferguson, and Napoli duo Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay.
Miller spoke about the camaraderie among the Scotland players competing in Italy, noting their interactions after matches.
"Every time we play against one another, we speak after the game and swap shirts.
All the boys have been brilliant when we've played against them."
and Additional Information
- Bowie scores first Verona goal in comeback win over Bologna
- What questions face Scotland 100 days from World Cup opener?
