Lennon Miller (left) has been handed the armband for Sunday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final (Image: SNS Group)

Lennon Miller will captain Motherwell in Hampden semi-final against Rangers

by · Daily Record

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Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell has confirmed that Lennon Miller will captain the side in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden.

The 18-year-old took the armband in Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Dundee United when Stephen O’Donnell went off injured, and the midfielder will continue that role in place of the vice-captain.

Kettlewell says his young star wasn’t at all fazed by the idea, and knows others will take a lead from his performance.

He said: “Barring any kind of disaster or anything at all, Lennon Miller will captain the side on Sunday.

“Lennon got the armband on Wednesday. There are a number of factors, you talk about how well you perform, leaders, and he’s maybe not the loudest voice in there, but his level of performance, I believe, leads other players.

“I believe that what he does on the football pitch can be an inspiration to others, even at that young age, that tender age.

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says Miller took the news in his stride (Image: SNS Group)

“It’s easy for me to tell you he’s going to captain the side on Sunday.

“He plays for us, he generally gets through the 90 minutes.

“I’m gutted to lose Paul McGinn, our captain, gutted to lose Stephen O’Donnell, our vice-captain, but when asking that question to Lennon you won’t be surprised to learn he shrugged his shoulders and said ‘no problem at all’.”

O’Donnell’s injury isn’t yet known, but he is definitely ruled out of the clash, and that allows others to come in.

He said: “Stephen won’t make it. I probably can’t put a timescale on it, but he definitely won’t be available for Sunday, which is a shame, because I think he has always been available since the day and minute that I walked in the door here.

“It’s bad timing on that front, but it doesn’t matter when that comes, you’re losing a good player and good experience.

Kettlewell says Miller's performances will inspire others (Image: SNS Group)

“It’s a wee bit of the walking wounded with one or two others. Nothing that I think will keep anybody out of the game, but a couple of wee tidy-ups, a couple of dead legs, and one or two other issues.

“We get the extra day, I suppose, with the game being on the Sunday, to make sure that’s tidied up.

“I would envisage that Stephen comes out and that we get to add Liam Gordon and Tony Watt to the squad.”

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