Calvin Miller concedes he has little chance of Scotland World Cup call-up as winger focuses on Falkirk
Calvin Miller concedes he has little chance of Scotland World Cup call-up as winger focuses on Falkirk.
Calvin Miller concedes that he has little chance of making Steve Clarke’s squad for the World Cup even although he is Scotland’s top performing winger by a considerable margin.
The winger, 28, is the Scottish Premiership’s top player for assists this season with three matches remaining, having set up nine goals. He’s also netted six times this league campaign having previously starred for the Bairns in the Championship and League One during the club’s back-to-back SPFL promotions.
And his excellent form has seen many tout him for a call-up - including his boss John McGlynn who said that he would be a versatile asset out wide - for the World Cup squad with a clear lack of depth in wider areas. But ex-Celtic youth prospect Miller, who was linked with move back to his former club in late January, says that his full focus is on Falkirk with potential European football still on the line.
Scotland call-up unlikely, admits Falkirk winger
"There's been talk but I don't see it happening, if I'm being honest," said Miller. "The manager of Scotland, Steve Clarke , is very loyal to the players he has. If you were going to get a bit of recognition, I would have got it maybe in the friendlies beforehand. That could give you an inclination if you could be about it. I just need to continuously keep doing well myself. You never know if he's going to be there after the World Cup or if there's a freshening up with a new manager in at that time and I could get on the radar of whoever comes in next. I must be doing something right if there's a bit of talk.
“I'm just focusing on this game Saturday to be honest. It's a huge opportunity for us to try and do something special again. Top six is amazing for us but we can put ourselves in a position where we could potentially get Europe. I've not really thought anything else. We've got these three games left and that's what I'm focusing on.”
Miller’s excellent campaign was highlighted at Falkirk’s recognition night this week - with the attacker racking up most of the awards. He won five player of the year prizes while also earning a joint-award with Liam Henderson for the players’ player of the year gong. His boss McGlynn picked him the top player of the year award.
"On a personal level, I've done really well in terms of goals and assists and stuff," said Miller, who was coy on the possibility of leaving Falkirk in the summer with only one year left on his deal. "The numbers are looking good, I've played a lot of games and it's always nice that your name can get thrown out there for different things in terms of Scotland, and speculation and all that. You see players all around the world, they go to different clubs and it maybe doesn't work out and then they eventually find their feet and start to flourish. That's probably what I've done here under the gaffer. I think it was just about getting to showcase it. I've been continuously doing it for the last three years now. I was always confident I could consistently play at a high level and I think I've showed that this season. I don't want to stop there, I want to keep continuing to play to the best of my ability."
On the transfer talk, Miller added: “To be honest it gives it just makes you feel good, I think any interest just shows you that people are recognising how well you're doing. so that's the type of stuff you want to hear. You can get yourself buzzing knowing that these people are watching and you can take it into a game. I don't overthink things too much, I think I'm at that age now where I know how to deal with all these emotions. I'm enjoying playing my best football at the moment so I don't let things get on top of me.”
Calvin Miller: European football with Falkirk would be immense
Falkirk host Hibs this Saturday with a win taking the Bairns above the Easter Road outfit with just two games to go after that. And finishing fifth would earn McGlynn’s side a shot at European football next term if Celtic win the Scottish Cup over Dunfermline. If Falkirk did get into the UEFA Conference League, they’d enter at round two with some cracking ties on offer.
Miller, unlike most of his team-mates, does have past experience of the potential long journeys and such like having been part of a Celtic group that travelled to Kazakhstan to take on Astana. He would love to take the Falkirk fans on a trip to the continent. At the time of writing, some examples of clubs the Bairns could take on are actually Astana and the likes of big hitters Gent (Belgium) and Sion (Switzerland).
“We won't be getting a private jet to Europe like I did when I was at Celtic if we do get there,” Miller joked. “I went over for the away leg in Kazakhstan with Celtic after the amazing home leg that we won 5-0 in the Champions League. I think that was the only tie I was involved in there but to even get a glimpse of being in that situation was surreal to be honest. It would be amazing for the fans, amazing for the club, amazing for the players. It would just show how far the boys have come and everyone involved has come.”