Have Celtic Missed a Trick by Not Re-signing Calvin Miller?

Sometimes, the best transfer business is not about spending millions on a player from abroad. Sometimes, it is about recognising the talent that was already in your building.

Calvin Miller is a name Celtic supporters will remember from his time coming through our academy, but after watching him continue to make an impact in Scottish football, I cannot help wondering whether we missed a trick by not bringing him back to Parkhead.

The former Celtic youngster joined Hearts from Falkirk in the summer after an excellent campaign, contributing nine goals and 11 assists across all competitions for the Bairns. He had established himself as one of the most productive attacking players in the country, helping Falkirk secure a top-six finish in their first season back in the Premiership. 

And his latest contribution against Motherwell has only added to the debate.

That goal against Motherwell says a lot

With Hearts searching for a second goal at Fir Park, Miller came off the bench and produced the moment that settled the game.

After a clearance fell his way, he picked up possession outside the box and fired a low effort from around 18 yards into the bottom corner. It was a confident finish from a player who has built his reputation on being a direct attacking threat. 

It was not just the goal itself that caught my attention. It was the confidence to take responsibility in a tight game and make something happen.

Celtic have had plenty of matches this season where we have needed somebody to provide that spark. We have sometimes looked short of ideas in the final third, relying on individual moments rather than consistently creating clear chances.

Miller is the type of player who wants to attack defenders, take risks and make things happen. He is not going to be the answer to every problem at Celtic, but having another Scottish player who understands the league and can produce a moment of quality would hardly have been a bad thing.

Of course, one goal does not prove Celtic made a mistake. But it is another reminder of the qualities Miller has developed since leaving the club.

Could he have solved our left-back problem?

This is where the conversation becomes particularly interesting.

Miller came through Celtic’s academy having spent time being labelled a left-back, although he has since explained that he sees himself primarily as an attacking player. His development at Falkirk allowed him to establish himself further forward, while his versatility has continued to attract attention. 

At Hearts, he has shown that he can still operate at left-back when required. His performance in that position against Dundee United earlier this season was praised for his aggressive tackling, interceptions and ability to contribute going forward. 

For Celtic, that versatility could have been valuable.

We know how important the left-back position is to the way we play. We want defenders who can support attacks, provide width and help us move the ball up the pitch. But we also need players who can defend properly when possession is lost.

Miller offers an interesting alternative because he has the attacking instincts of a winger. He could potentially give us something different in games where we need more aggression and forward movement from that side.

I would not suggest that we should simply play him at left-back every week. His own comments make it clear that he considers himself an attacking player first, and there is a difference between being capable of filling in at full-back and being a dependable long-term solution in that position.

However, having a player who can cover left-back and provide an option further forward would give the manager more flexibility.

Was he worth bringing back?

The argument in Miller’s favour is that he would have been a relatively familiar option in a league he already knows, rather than another expensive gamble from overseas.

His performances at Falkirk showed that he could produce goals and assists consistently at Premiership level. His move to Hearts also demonstrates that another Scottish club saw enough value in him to commit to a three-year contract. 

That does not automatically mean Celtic should have signed him. We have to consider whether he would have received regular game time, whether his defensive qualities were sufficient for our system and whether he could have improved the starting eleven.

Those are legitimate questions.

But Celtic have also been criticised for failing to make the most of opportunities in the domestic market. We do not always need to look abroad for players who can contribute to the squad, particularly when someone has already come through our own academy.

Miller left Celtic in 2020 with only five senior appearances to his name. Since then, he has rebuilt his career, developed his attacking game and become a productive Premiership player. 

There is something worth considering in that journey. Not every academy graduate is going to become a first-team regular, but players can develop considerably once they leave the pressure of trying to break into the Celtic side.

Celtic need to look closer to home

For me, the bigger question is whether Celtic are doing enough to identify players who have developed elsewhere and could return to make a contribution.

We have a responsibility to recruit players who improve the squad, regardless of where they come from. If a player is good enough, affordable and suited to the system, we should at least be asking the question.

Miller’s ability to play in more than one position, his attacking output and his knowledge of Scottish football make him an interesting example.

Would he have been a guaranteed starter for Celtic? No. Would he have solved all our problems at left-back? Certainly not.

But could he have offered useful depth, attacking quality and another option in a position where flexibility matters? Absolutely.

Watching him score against Motherwell, it is difficult not to wonder whether Celtic could have benefited from bringing one of their former academy players back into the fold.

Perhaps Hearts will ultimately get more out of him than Celtic ever could have. That is football, and Miller deserves credit for the work he has put in to rebuild his career.

But if we are serious about improving our squad, we cannot afford to overlook useful talent simply because it no longer plays for Celtic.

Sometimes the player we need is not thousands of miles away. Sometimes he is already playing in our own league.

And Calvin Miller is a reminder that Celtic should never stop looking.