I'M NO FAILURE - MILLER

On-loan striker Lee Miller insists his return to Scotland with Hearts does not mark him out as a failure.

The 21-year-old has joined the Jambos on a four-month deal from Bristol City after failing to claim a regular first-team place this season.

Miller played regularly under former Ashton Gate boss Danny Wilson, who signed him from the Bairns for £300,000 in July 2003.

But, a year later, Wilson had left the club to be replaced by Brian Tinnion.

However, the former Falkirk player maintains he has not returned north of the border with a tarnished reputation.

Miller said: "People are entitled to their views. But I don't view myself as having failed down there.

"It is just unfortunate the way things go when a new manager comes in.

"They want to build a team with their own players and they have their own ideas and I wasn't getting a chance, so I had to look elsewhere.

"I haven't played much this season but I did have a good season before that and I know deep down I was playing well and I was scoring goals.

"So I am delighted that John Robertson has taken a chance with me and I just want to play games and score goals with Hearts."

Hearts head coach John Robertson admits he suffered the same fate when he played for Newcastle in the early 1980s.

But the Tynecastle boss insists Miller has more to offer as a striker than he ever did.

Robertson said: "Things were slightly different as far as my situation was concerned. I didn't do well at Newcastle.

"The players were bigger, stronger and quicker so coming back to Hearts was an easy decision for me to make.

"Lee is different, however. He has got the height, pace and the strength to play at any level and I will have no problems whatsoever putting him straight into the team against Dundee United on Saturday.

"He is a young target man who is keen to do well and we had been keeping tabs on him for a while.

"He has looked good in training and has settled well with the other players, which is important."

But Robertson has warned his team to be wary of complacency against a Tannadice team, who have struggled in the Bank of Scotland Premier League this season.

Robertson added: "United have made a couple of experienced signings and there is no secret that we were after one of them, Stevie Crawford, who will be a big threat.

"Ian McCall is putting together a strong squad and they will be looking to push away from the bottom end of the table."

Taken from sportinglife.com