Ruairi Daly 
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport
Brendan Rodgers hailed 18-year-old Calvin Miller following Celtic’s win over Partick Thistle last night and made his intentions  with the youngster clear.
Miller deputised at left-back and put in a solid performance before being replaced by Emilio Izaguirre on 62 minutes.
Celtic won the game 1-0 courtesy of a brilliant strike by Scott Sinclair from a training ground free-kick by Liam Henderson.
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Speaking about the youngster to Celtic’s official website after last night’s win, Rodgers said:
I thought for 18-years of age, a young player who’s just moved position really, he did very well in his first game. That was a big positive for us. He’ll feel the power and the strength needed to be a first-team player.
He was up against a good opponent who was fast and strong, and that was the idea – put him in where it was a test. David Amoo is quick and strong so that was always going to be a good test for him, but I thought he did very, very well.
Miller came through the academy as a left winger and forward, but Rodgers sees his future at left-back, and the Irishman is now looking to convert him into a similar mould of defender to one of his former proteges.
Calvin’s a kid that I’ve been impressed with because he really wants to learn, he wants to develop. And I did a similar thing when I was at Chelsea with Ryan Bertrand.
We took Ryan from Gillingham into Chelsea and he came in as a left-winger in the same team as Scott Sinclair, who was a striker. I moved Scotty wide and put Ryan at left-back, and Ryan went on and played for England and won the Champions League with Chelsea. He’s now at Southampton, and he’s an outstanding player.
Rodgers could yet test his youth squad further in their upcoming games, as The Hoops have already played six times this month and will play three more games before the winter break.
Celtic are in action again on Saturday when they travel to Hamilton on Christmas Eve before a home game against Ross County the following Wednesday.
