Martin O'Neill is ready to reward Cork’s Liam Miller with a new contract after the Irishman’s opening goal in Celtic’s Champions League victory over Lyon last night. The 22-year-old came off the bench to score the opener and set up a 2-0 victory at Parkhead.
The Cork-born midfielder has come from nowhere this season to emerge as the club's hottest young star. That has not gone unnoticed by O'Neill, who is eager to tie him to a lucrative long-term deal and push more money his way.
“Liam is going to be a great player for this club,” enthused the Northern Irishman. “I am going to make sure that we get him on a new contract as soon as possible - a 35-year deal if I can manage it.
“I felt that John Hartson was tiring and Liam could give us energy and ability in the middle of the park while allowing me to move Chris Sutton up front beside Henrik Larsson.”
Unsurprisingly Miller claimed his 70th-minute goal against the French champions was the highlight of his career to date. The 22-year-old replaced Hartson and within six minutes had headed Celtic in front after rising to meet a Larsson cross. Miller, who scored against Arsenal during a pre-season friendly and against Kaunas in the Champions League qualifiers, was delighted with his role in Celtic's win.
“It has turned out to be a bit of luck for me,” he said. “I was pleased with the goal but the main thing was that we got the three points. There was good play down the left, Henrik managed to beat one or two and then swung it in and I was on the end of it. We had been unlucky up to then and I was quite pleased in the end. The team really dug deep. It was a great team performance - but that is the highlight of my career so far.”
Filed by Johnny Proby
