Miller's hasn't given up on Scotland

Derek Davis

INSPIRED by Chris Iwelumo's call up for Scotland, Blues midfielder Tommy Miller has revealed he still has hopes of breaking back into the international set up.

With former Ipswich Town manager George Burley now in charge of the Scots, 29-year-old Miller believes he still has a chance of pulling on the blue of Scotland, especially with Iwelumo at 30 showing age is no barrier.

Miller said: “Chris' call up is very good. He has done well after scoring a lot of goals for Wolves. They are getting a lot of recognition and he is banging them in so he deserves his call-up.

“You look at him, and Jimmy Bullard with England, and it is encouraging.

“I would love to be back in the Scotland squad. If George Burley were to look at me again and I was asked, it would be lovely to be involved again.”

Although born in Easington, near Sunderland, Miller qualifies for Scotland though a grandmother who hails from Kirkaldy and has already attracted interest from the tartan army.

Bruised ankle ligament injuries meant his last call-up ended with him being sent home again but Miller hopes that won't be held against him.

He said: “The last time was with Bertie Vogts but I had to pull out of two 'B' squads and that was disappointing.

“I know George quite well. He signed me at Ipswich before and it would be nice to be involved working with him again.

“It is new to George being an international manager but they have good players in the Scotland squad and he will do a good job.

“They have a great set of fans and they will like the way George plays. He always sets up the same way by playing good football and that is the best way as far as I'm concerned.

“I know that style and if I got that call I would be more than happy to go there and join him again.

“Until that call comes I will focus on what I'm doing here at Ipswich and carry on enjoying that.”

While he waits for that particular phone call Miller will spend this international break celebrating his twins Tom and Freya's birthday next Thursday, which will be made all the better with a win at Charlton today.

Miller said: “If we win we will be six unbeaten and on a run and looking to get right in there.

“If you get beat you have to think about it for two weeks and it is dour.

“We get a good result and then everyone is happy and smiling and it makes the break that much better.

“We rest up, we get a couple of extra days off, and then the week before Swansea, we are back and working for that.”

Town are due a penalty and Miller is formidable from the spot and more goals, from open play as well, is what he is looking for, and that would also help his international aspirations.

Miller said: “I feel I'm playing well enough for Ipswich. The manager has options in midfield and can change it around. With Iván (Campo) in there I can bomb on and get forward which is what I enjoy doing best as my goal-scoring record over the years has proved.

“If I'm sitting in there with Owen Garvan or Shumi (Veliche Shumulikoski) then I have to share the load defensively. That is fine as you have to adapt and that is what the manager is doing.

“We have to get on with it and respect the manager's decision.”

Miller and Campo could be the preferred choice in midfield today but whoever plays Miller is convinced the confidence gleaned from Tuesday night's 3-0 win over Barnsley will be a huge boost.

He added: “We needed that bit of luck and that win after the Crystal Palace game with the doom and gloom there was in the papers. We can understand the frustration after last season when we did so well at home and everyone expected that to carry on.

“We know we were fortunate and we didn't play well but the keeper made a couple of howlers and sometimes you need a bit of luck to kick start you and we got that so now we have to carry that on.

“We are five games unbeaten so we have to be confident and believe in each other and go to Charlton and get the three points.”