RODGERS PRAISES DEBUT BHOY MILLER

BRENDAN RODGERS praised Celtic’s debut Bhoy Calvin Miller after the Hoops’ 1-0 win over Partick Thistle at Parkhead last night.

And the Irishman believes the teenage defender has the ability to follow in the footsteps of Champions League winner Ryan Bertrand.

Scott Sinclair netted a 16th-minute goal to secure another triumph with Rodgers’ men now FOURTEEN points clear at the top with a game in hand.

Miller performs as a winger for Celtic’s development team, but the Hoops gaffer sees his future at left-back – after making the same switch with Bertrand during his coaching spell at Chelsea.

Rodgers said: “For 18 years of age, a young player who has just moved position, I thought he did very well in his first game. It was a big positive for us.

“He’s a kid I’ve been impressed with as he really wants to learn and develop.

“I did a similar thing with Ryan Bertrand when I was at Stamford Bridge. We took him in from Gillingham as a left-winger and in the same team was Scott Sinclair, who was a striker.

“I moved Scotty wide and moved Ryan to left-back and he went on to play with England and won the Champions League with Chelsea. Now he’s at Southampton and he’s an outstanding player.

“I see similar sort of traits in Calvin where he can do that one position behind, but he’s only 18, so he needs time to learn that position and role.

“But he’s got some outstanding qualities and can offer the club something going forward.”

Celtic, of course, have been without last season’s regular No.3 Kieran Tierney for the past 13 games through injury and the 19-year-old Scotland international won’t be seen in first team action until the start of 2017.

Honduran star Emilio Izaguirre has deputised in the teenager’s absence and came on for Miller in the 63rd minute of last night’s game.

The prospect of the converted winger emerging to add strength in depth to the position is undoubtedly good news for Rodgers’ outfit as they zero in on their sixth successive Premiership crown.

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