Miller 'lives dream' to captain Well in cup semi aged 18

Manager Stuart Kettlewell says giving the armband to Lennon Miller was an "easy" decision

Lennon Miller will captain Motherwell in Sunday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers at the age of 18 and says it is "what dreams are made of".

The midfielder came through the youth ranks at Fir Park, making his first-team debut at the age of 16, and has been handed the armband in the absence through injury of club captain Paul McGinn and deputy Stephen O'Donnell.

"Really proud for me and my family," the son of former Scotland striker Lee Miller said.

"I'm not planning any big speech. We’ve obviously got great leaders in the changing room anyway, so nothing really changes for me.

"Because I've got the armband, I'm not going to change before the game. I'll try to do my talking with my feet."

Miller recalled that "the last time I was at Hampden, I was in the stand watching a League Cup final" - a 2-0 defeat by Celtic in 2017 - and now he hopes to lead them to a victory against the other side of the Old Firm.

"To captain this club is what dreams are made of," he said. "It's where I’ve been most of my life really and the fact that I came through the academy and to captain your team at Hampden is a massive thing for me."

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell said the decision was an "easy one".

"He's maybe not the loudest voice in there, but his level of performance I believe leads other players," he explained. "I believe at times some of what he does on a football pitch can be an inspiration to others, even at that young tender age.

"When asking that question of Lennon, you guys won't be surprised to learn that he shrugged his shoulders and said yeah, no problem at all."