Calvin Miller’s chances of making an impact at Celtic are going to be put on hold again with Andrew Gutman’s arrival.
Miller had a short five-month spell at Dundee during the first half of the season. But after making 16 impressive first-team appearances at Tayside, his loan deal was surprisingly cut short. Miller was supposed to stay there until the end of the season.
The left-back is by nowhere near the finished article, and won’t be for a while. But the potential arrival of Gutman means that he now has to head back out on loan once again.
Gutman is closing in on a move according to Record Online.
When listing players that he wants to ship out before the end of January, Brendan Rodgers needs to have Scottish defender Miller at the top of the list.
The 21-year-old isn’t near an age where Celtic will give up on him. But as he’s still extremely raw, Miller needs more senior games to help him develop appropriately – something he’s only just had over the last few months.
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Gutman in and Miller out makes perfect sense
Having him as Kieran Tierney’s deputy would’ve been fine too. But if Gutman is coming in, there’s no point whatsoever in keeping the youth academy product around for now.
Miller’s contract still has a further 18 months to run on it, and will know he has to start impressing. But whilst he was doing well at Dens Park, he needs to become more influential in any potential loan deal secured this month.
Another Premiership club would be the ideal place for him to go, but it isn’t essential. Motherwell were recently linked with him, but are now reportedly not interested in him.
But Celtic really have to find him a place to go if they still believe in him. Sending him back down to the reserves and under-21 side wouldn’t be beneficial for him at this stage. At 21, he needs to be playing senior football.
The arrival of Gutman will mean there’s no opportunities for Miller once again. Emilio Izaguirre is also still at the club, which would make Miller FOURTH in line for a game at left-back.
Sorting another loan deal out is vital. Just as it is for the likes of Lewis Morgan, Jack Hendry, and Jonny Hayes – Miller also has to be on that list.