PFA Awards: Motherwell star Lennon Miller emulates James McFadden, as three Lanarkshire stars win prizes on the night
Lennon Miller is celebrating after being crowned the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year last night - becoming the first Motherwell player since James McFadden in 2003 to claim the award.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who hails from Wishaw, has had a fine season for the Steelmen and earned his first call-up to the Scotland A squad earlier this year.
And his performances have been recognised by his peers, with Miller taking the young player prize on a night two of his fellow Lanarkshire players also won awards.
Rutherglen ace Alan Trouten won League Player of the Year after guiding East Fife to the play-offs this season, becoming the oldest player to win a PFA award at the age of 39.
And East Kilbride star Emma Lawton was crowned SWPL Player of the Year after a terrific first full-time season with Celtic Women, playing Champions League football for the first time and landing her first Scotland cap and first goal for her country.
Miller was over the moon to claim his award and admitted if he has half the career McFadden had, he would be delighted.
He said: "If I have half the career James has had, I will be pretty happy.
"It is pretty hard to put into words right now. It is still pretty raw but I am just thankful for everybody that voted for me.
"For it to be the players that you play against is that bit extra special and I'd like to thank the manager and the players I play with every week because they have been a massive help to me and I am just thankful for everything.
"Playing another year has given me extra experience, different experience to what I had last year. I feel like I have become a better player.
"To any other young players I'd say just enjoy it. Enjoy every time you step on the pitch and work as hard as you can, you never know where it can take you."
Trouten scored 22 goals and provided four assists for the Fifers after helping them to the League One play-offs and that came off the back of claiming an incredible FIVE awards at the East Fife Player of the Year Awards a day earlier.
After becoming the oldest PFA winner, the striker said: "It is a wee bit of history so I will take it. I think nowadays players at all levels look after themselves so much better than when I first started in the game. It is a different culture and you reap the rewards. When I was younger I probably didn't look after myself as well as I should have, but now I'm putting in the work and I've got the rewards for it.
"I am absolutely delighted, I'm over the moon. My family will be so proud of me. They put in as much effort as myself. Doing things on the pitch, they need to make sacrifices as well.
"It is the fourth time I have been nominated and it is a massive honour and privilege.
"A lot of people just see you as a part-time footballer, training Tuesday and Thursday then you play Saturday. But it is definitely more than that, especially if you are playing to the age I am.
"It is big sacrifices, but I love football and I will continue it until the day I chuck it.
"I won five awards at the club awards so it has been a good week. We fell short of winning the league but we can still get promoted so that's what we'll be looking to do in the play-offs."
Celtic star Lawton, 23, scored in the Champions League for the club and admits it will be hard to top this campaign individually.
She said: "It is a real honour to do it when it is voted for the people you play against every week. It is special so I am really grateful to everybody that has voted for me.
"I was still part-time last season, I was doing my coaching on the side so now I am a full-time player, playing and training every day and it has just been mad - but I have loved every minute fo it.
"As a team, we've not been at our best this season but to be recognised individually is really special and I am just extremely grateful.
"It is going to be really hard to live-up to these past 12 months, but we'll see what the future holds."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Gianluigi Donnarumma 'very keen' to join Chelsea or another Premier League club
Gianluigi Donnarumma is 'very interested' in joining two Premier League clubs after effectively being banished by PSG. The 26-year-old, a Champions League and Euros winner, was left out of PSG's squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham. Donnarumma did not travel with his teammates to Udine, with new PSG signing Lucas Chevalier and back-up goalkeeper Renato Martin instead picked by Luis Enrique. Enrique later confirmed his decision was down to looking for a 'different profile' of goalkeeper, essentially ending Donnarumma's highly successful PSG career. 'I am supported by my club and we are trying to find the best solution,' Enrique said prior to PSG's penalty shootout win over Spurs. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. 'It is a difficult decision. I only have praise for Donnarumma. He is one of the very best goalkeepers out there and an even better man. 'But we were looking for a different profile. It's very difficult to take these types of decisions.' Donnarumma was expected to sign a new contract with the French champions earlier in the summer but failed to agree a deal. With his current deal set to expire next summer, PSG have taken the decision to cash in on the Italian in this transfer window. In an emotional statement to the 'special' PSG fans, Donnarumma said he was 'disappointed and disheartened' to be exiled. 'I hope to have the opportunity to look the fans at the Parc des Princes in the eyes one more time and say goodbye as it should be done,' he added. 'If that doesn't happen, I want you to know that your support and affection mean the world to me, and I will never forget it.' The shot-stopper's agent, Enzo Raiola, then hit out at PSG for showing 'zero respect' to a player who has starred in four Ligue 1 title wins and of course last season's Champions League victory. Raiola also hinted at a Premier League move for Donnarumma, saying: 'We will consider solutions now, maybe in the Premier League there will be clubs able to pay what's needed. 'The Premier League would be the right step in my view and we're working on it. There are no talks with Italian clubs.' Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with moves since the PSG bombshell. According to Italian journalist Aurelio Capaldi, speaking on The Transfers Podcast, Donnarumma is 'very interested' in joining Man City or Chelsea. It is claimed Donnarumma is 'fascinated' by Pep Guardiola and would love to play under the legendary manager, but that he also likes the idea of living in London and appreciates Chelsea. Man City do appear to have genuine interest in Donnarumma but both Man United and Chelsea are briefing that they will not be making moves. That would come as a surprise given Andre Onana and Robert Sanchez, the current number ones at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, have received widespread criticism. United have prioritised attacking signings this summer, spending almost £200m on Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. As a new goalkeeper has not joined Ruben Amorim's squad, Onana is set to start United's Premier League opener against Arsenal on Sunday. Chelsea, meanwhile, were interested in signing a new shot-stopper earlier in the summer but have seemingly changed their mind since failing to land Mike Maignan. More Trending Manchester City have expressed interest in signing Donnarumma as Turkish champions Galatasaray eye up a move for Ederson. Brazil international Ederson has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world over the past decade but he appeared to be on the decline last season. Man City re-signed James Trafford from Burnley last month to compete with and potentially replace Ederson but have still not ruled out a deal for Donnarumma. PSG begin their Ligue 1 title defence against Nantes on Sunday but Donnarumma will not be involved as he searches for a new club. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: 'I played with Viktor Gyokeres – he's not the one and will struggle at Arsenal' MORE: Manchester United set price to sign Sporting star as Ruben Amorim sanctions bid MORE: Liverpool boss Arne Slot makes Chelsea prediction after £250m spending spree
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Man Utd set price to sign Sporting star as Ruben Amorim sanctions bid
Manchester United are lining up a bid for Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand in case they miss out on first-choice midfield target Carlos Baleba. United were thought to be near enough done in the transfer market after spending almost £200m on Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. The Red Devils do not have the spending power of some of their Premier League rivals after missing out on Champions League football. That meant United were expected to focus their attentions on outgoings up until the transfer deadline and offload as many members of Ruben Amorim's bomb squad as possible. However, it emerged last week that the Manchester giants had expressed interest in a stunning deal for Brighton midfielder Baleba. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. United's midfield lacked energy and bite last season and Baleba is seen as an ideal addition to the Old Trafford squad following his impressive form on the south coast. Manchester United remain interested in Baleba despite learning that Brighton will demand at least £100m to part ways with the Cameroon international. The chances of a summer deal still appear relatively slim given the numbers involved and as a result United are looking at other options. They have been repeatedly linked with a move for Amorim's former Sporting captain Hjulmand since the manager's appointment back in November. According to The Sun, Manchester United will step up their interest in the Denmark international should they fail in their mission to sign Baleba and are preparing a £50m move. Amorim pushed to sign Hjulmand from Lecce in 2023 and made him his captain as he emerged as a key player for his title-winning Sporting side. Hjulmand's leadership skills and 'monster mentality' impressed Amorim and the United boss is ready to sanction a move to secure a reunion in Manchester. Hjulmand has a release clause worth £68m but it is claimed Sporting would be willing to sell for around £10m less that figure if achievable add-ons were agreed. The 26-year-old scored in Sporting's opening win over Casa Pia on Friday night. Baleba remains United's first-choice target for the time being but it remains to be seen if they are able to come up with a deal. More Trending There is also the threat of a rival move from Manchester City, who have also expressed interest in signing the Seagulls star. Discussing the speculation surrounding Baleba at a Brighton fans' forum last week, club chairman Paul Barber said: 'There's always going to be interest in our players. 'Manchester United have not been in touch with me. Speculation is speculation. Carlos is a fantastic talent. 'We hope he'll be here for years to come – but its subject to the dynamics of the football world, which isn't always predictable.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Liverpool boss Arne Slot makes Chelsea prediction after £250m spending spree MORE: Jamie Carragher says Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta 'stole' £60m star from Liverpool MORE: John Terry names Chelsea star who is 'best in the world in his position'
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Djed Spence signs new contract at Tottenham
Spence made 35 appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, after eventually being handed his full debut in December – two-and-a-half-years after he first joined the club. After Spence was deemed a 'club signing' by former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte in 2022, the former Nottingham Forest defender had mixed loans at Rennes, Leeds and Genoa. Spence might have left Spurs last summer, but instead forced his way into the plans of then-boss Ange Postecoglou and played his part in their Europa League triumph. Postecoglou's replacement Thomas Frank has quickly placed his trust in Spence and started him in Wednesday's Super Cup loss to Paris St Germain. The latest stage of the 25-year-old's resurgence is to earn improved terms to ensure his long-term future remains at Tottenham. Speaking in Udine before his new contract had been finalised, Spence was quizzed on the prospect of Spurs being active during the final fortnight of the summer transfer window. Injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have left Tottenham short on attacking midfield options, which is why the club has this week opened talks with Manchester City and Crystal Palace respectively over the potential signings of Savinho and Eberechi Eze, PA understands. Our 2025/26 Premier League campaign kicks off on Saturday. 👉 @Castrol — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 14, 2025 'I'm not sure who has been linked or who is going to come in, but I think yeah whoever comes in will definitely add strength to the squad and will be a good thing for us,' Spence admitted. 'Yeah, (Champions League), it's a great competition, it's the big stage and everyone wants to show what they can do on the biggest stage, so yeah, looking forward to it.' Before Spurs return to Europe's elite competition next month, morale must be lifted after their midweek shoot-out loss. Spence urged Tottenham to bounce back in their Premier League opener with Burnley on Saturday, which will be Frank's first fixture at home. He added: 'I think we've got to keep our heads up first and foremost. Then starting Saturday, we play at home, get a win and take it from there. 'I think the main thing (asked by Frank) is be solid at the back and our target is to keep as many clean sheets as possible. You do that and you win trophies, you win titles.'
