Should Scotland turn out to be among the participants at the 2034 World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, it will be no surprise if the squad includes Lennon Miller and David Watson, two midfielders likely to be at the peak of their powers a decade from now.
The teenagers, of Motherwell and Kilmarnock respectively, have not just the ability, but the work ethic and the temperament to make the most of their talents. If their ambition is not to become Scotland regulars, it should be.
Of course, an awful lot can happen between now and then. As many others have discovered, the development of players is not an exact science and there is no saying when it might stall.
The right moves have to be made at the right time for the right reasons. But Miller and Watson certainly have the potential, as their clubs were reminded in the Premiership on Saturday.
While Miller underlined his importance to Motherwell by scoring both goals in their 2-1 victory against St Mirren at Fir Park, Watson showed his game-changing abilities with a double in Kilmarnock’s 3-3 draw with Dundee United.
Their respective clubs must be lapping it up. Supporters love to see young players coming through the ranks and making a meaningful contribution, even if they are destined to move on sooner rather than later.
Lennon Miller celebrates with Moses Ebiye after scoring from the penalty spot against St Mirren.
Miller turns turns the game around by scoring his second goal in Motherwell’s 2-1 win at Fir Park.
David Watson (left) enjoys the moment with Marley Watkins after putting Kilmarnock 2-1 ahead.
Miller has been with Motherwell since he was seven, Watson with Kilmarnock since he was 10. How rewarding it is for those who have invested time and money in their growth to be repaid in such fashion. How gratifying it is for Scottish football to enjoy a season or two of their talent before the inevitable move south.
Too many times in recent years, young Scottish players have left before they have played more than a handful of first-team games. And the result is often anonymity in some soulless academy system or a loan to England’s lower divisions — in which case why not stay in Scotland?
Miller has made great play of his determination to make an impact at Motherwell, despite speculation linking him with a number of big clubs. Quite apart from paying back his local team, he will get more experience and be better placed to decide what his next level should be as and when the time comes.
While his father, Lee, a former Scotland international, has doubtless been a useful sounding board, Lennon’s eminently sensible career strategy is born of a maturity evident on the pitch. Time and again, he has shown not just the technical ability, but the composure and physicality of someone much older.
It was the 18-year-old’s stoppage-time penalty against Dundee United that recently took Motherwell into the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals. And he was at it again on Saturday, equalising from the spot after Killian Phillips put St Mirren ahead. Then came his winning goal, planted in the bottom corner just before half-time.
What Miller was doing for Motherwell, Watson was doing for Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire team were a goal down at home to Dundee United when their manager, Derek McInnes, brought on his precocious 19-year-old at the start of the second half.
Within two minutes, Watson had equalised, hooking an outrageous bicycle kick over his shoulder into the top corner. Eleven minutes later, he had turned the game on its head by timing a perfect run into the box and diverting Matty Kennedy’s shot into the net.
When Marley Watkins added a third, it looked as though Kilmarnock had secured their first league win of the season. That, though, was to forget the inexplicable defensive lapses that have so often cost them of late. Instead of seeing out the game, Kilmarnock allowed Craig Sibbald to pull one back and Ross Graham to score a stoppage-time penalty, which left them second-bottom of the table.
As a frustrated McInnes pointed out later, the story should have been about Watson, not his team’s capacity for self-destruction. The teenager had single-handedly transformed the home side. He has energy, a knack for goals and nearly two years left on his contract, although few would expect him to be at Rugby Park that long. Kilmarnock fans should enjoy him while they can.
Jimmy Thelin took another step forward by leading Aberdeen to a 2-1 victory against Dundee.
Thelin passes test with flying colours
The curious debate as to whether Aberdeen have been properly tested makes no sense. Tested for what? The title? Second place? Let’s not forget that the Pittodrie side finished in the bottom six last season and could not in their wildest dreams have imagined that they would start this campaign with 12 consecutive wins.
If the immediate challenge was to put that nightmare behind them and allow Jimmy Thelin to lay the foundations of a bright new era, they have passed with flying colours. How far they can go under the Swedish manager, who has brought vision and unity to a club that had none, is another matter.
They were not at their best against Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday, but ground out a 2-1 win thanks to goals by summer signings Kevin Nisbet and Topi Keskinen. After Simon Murray pulled one back from the spot, goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, another recent recruit, ensured all three points went to Aberdeen.
Sure, the fixture list has been kind, but it is easy to overlook Aberdeen’s past struggles against mediocre opposition, irrespective of the manager.
And yes, they have yet to play Celtic, Rangers or Hearts, last season’s top three, but that’s not their fault. Even if they lose to them in the weeks ahead, it would be a brave tipster who backed Aberdeen to finish lower than third. After six Premiership matches, they are 16 points ahead of Hearts… with a game in hand.
During the hapless, hopeless days under Glass, Goodwin, Robson and Warnock, Aberdeen and their supporters would have bitten your hand off to be in that position.
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