'How much risk are you willing to take?' - Askou explains Miller absence

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou admitted he made a late call on Lennon Miller's omission from the squad that played out a goalless draw with St Mirren on Saturday.

The 18-year-old has missed the start of the season with an injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Carlisle.

"Yes, it was a final call with everything taken into consideration," Askou said. "It's not a secret that there are things going on in the background. We know he's been out for four weeks.

"How much risk are you willing to take on a player like him in that situation? The decision was that we kept him out of it."

The teenager, who won his first Scotland caps at the end of last season, is widely expected to leave Motherwell this summer with plenty of clubs fighting for his signature.

"No, there's nothing I can tell," said Askou when asked for an update on Miller's seemingly imminent departure.

"I've been busy with the game today so I haven't really heard any updates since early this morning."

Another player who might miss the next game is right-back Johnny Koutroumbis, who has enjoyed a good start to the season, but went off with an injury in the first half in Paisley.

"We'll have to assess him tomorrow (Sunday)," said Askou. "I hope it's not too bad. He was not on a stretcher. He was walking and seemed OK but we'll have to assess that when we get back."