New Hearts signing Calvin Miller made his Tynecastle league debut in a now unfamiliar position- operating as a left-back during Sunday’s win over Dundee United.
Miller side for the club last season after a breakout season on the wing for Falkirk, where he scored nine goals and provided eleven assists on John McGlynn’s left flank. But injuries meant he was deployed at left back for Sunday’s match against Dundee United.
Whilst not a completely unfamiliar position for Miller- who started his career at Celtic as a fullback, Miller admitted he hasn’t played in defence for a number of years, and doesn’t want to make a habit of it.
Speaking after Sunday’s match, he said: “I think about six out of the nine defenders are injured and he asked me if I could do a job. I’m not gonna say no am I? I’m always gonna do what I can for the team. I’m just thankful I came out and it was a good performance.
He also admitted he hasn’t played left-back often since leaving Celtic, but he knew what to do to adapt to playing further back. Miller said: “I was just trying to be aggressive in my defending, be touch tight, doing what I don’t like as a winger.”
But Miller also joked that he doesn’t want to feature at left-back consistently at his new club, he said: “I don’t enjoy defending if I’m being honest. What winger do you know that does enjoy defending?
“I don’t want to say I still enjoy clean sheets cause that’s what the defenders say.”
He was also quick to dispel any of his managers talking about retaining his left back spot on Thursday night against Benfica, Miller said: “I’m probably gonna go speak to Harry Milne and say ‘go get yourself back in the group’.
“I’ll do a job for the team at any point, but I want to get myself back in my ideal position. That’s how I got myself here.”
Miller was also full of praise for the Tynecastle atmosphere, and said it will be needed again on Thursday night, he said: “Last year I was on the other side of it when I came here in the league. I hadn’t got a win and I hadn’t scored a goal here. So to be on the other side of it now, coming here, getting the backing, scoring and winning. The fans all behind us and a class atmosphere- that’s a moment I’ll remember.
“When you’ve got that crowd out there backing you as well, Tynecastle can be a tough place to come. We’ll be definitely needing that. The pitch isn’t as big as what it was at Benfica, it’ll be a lot tighter for them to go try and play as well. So we’ll be making it as hard as possible as I keep saying.”