Lennon Miller hopes Motherwell goals make late mum proud while dad Lee's advice is a cut above

The similarities with his father are obvious.

A naturally gifted footballer from a young age. Confident on the pitch, humble off it. A quick learner who isn’t fazed by what’s around him. Lennon Miller is Lee Miller’s boy, alright. But he’s Donna Miller’s son too, you know. The attributes and qualities he shares with his mum might not be initially as striking. But when you delve a bit deeper into what makes this 16-year-old tick, they’re crystal clear – strength, determination, resilience, humility. Traits that sometimes take a lifetime to acquire. Yet 25 days before his 17th birthday, Miller appears to have them in abundance. And he’s in no doubt about where he got them from.

When he was five, Donna died due to a tumour in her brain. Incredibly, after a four-year battle, she refused treatment so that her son Bobby – Lennon’s little brother – could be born. Tragically, she passed away in April 2012, just a few weeks after Bobby had turned one. It had a devastating effect on her husband and two boys.

Even now, Lennon is probably still too young to fully comprehend how they coped. His memories are hazy. But he’s sure of one thing. That Donna wanted nothing more than for him to be a football player, like his dad.

That’s why, when he signed his first pro contract with Motherwell recently, he dedicated it to her. Remarkably, he’s already in Stuart Kettlewell’s first-team.

Against Queen of the South in a League Cup tie a few weeks ago he scored his first goal for the club. And he followed it up with another against East Fife on Saturday.

He displays a level of maturity beyond his years. And Miller knows where that comes from.

The midfielder told MailSport: “My mum showed courage and resilience in what she went through.

“I