Blair Spittal insists Lennon Miller has earned the trust of everyone connected to Motherwell.
He may only be 17, but the midfielder has shown everyone what he can do in such a vital area of the pitch.
His tidy half-turn to skip away from Scotland international Callum McGregor was sublime as he set up Spittal to fire the hosts into a first-half lead against Celtic on Sunday. The finish matched the set-up, in fairness.
Miller has earned plenty of plaudits for the way he’s taken to men’s first team football in what had been his breakthrough season. Even Brendan Rodgers made a beeline for him off camera to congratulate him on his performance at Fir Park.
Spittal is adamant nobody at the club will put too much pressure on the young man’s shoulders, but he does believe that he’s a special talent.
"It was a good goal and the level that Lennon showed was there for everyone to see,” the 28-year-old said. “It's a brilliant turn and the weight of the pass allowed me to hit it first time and it went in.
"I don't want to put too much pressure on him but I think everyone can see the ability he has and the trust he has from everyone in the dressing room. He steps on the park and is willing to take the ball anywhere and try things.
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"It's been a frustrating time for him being injured and it has taken him time to get back up to speed but everyone could see what he can do for this team.
"I think Lennon has always had the belief in himself. Last season he was kind of dripped in and out of training sessions and came in for the last game of the season.
“But from the first day of pre-season he has been given the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. We always knew he had the ability and it was just a case of when he was going to be ready.
"To play the amount of games he has this season considering he has been out for three months this season has been terrific. We trust him so much.
"I think everyone looks at the boy [David] Watson from Kilmarnock too and he and Lennon are in the same age group with Scotland. They have both come in and done really well with their teams.
"Obviously, we aren't doing as well as we had hoped. But I think throughout the season we have produced performances, but it is important now that we need to start getting results too."
Spittal’s contract expires at the end of the season and there has been intense speculation since the turn of the year that he will look to move on to pastures new.
A pre-contract agreement with St Mirren has been rumoured, however, the attacking midfielder remained coy on his future when invited to address it.
He said: "I just want to concentrate on playing football. There have been a lot of rumours but I am just putting it to the side and playing my football.
"I think it is as well as I have played in terms of numbers and forward players are judged on that but I feel I have been playing to a good level for a while now. So I have got the belief in myself I can keep doing that."
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