Lewis Miller reveals his Hibs inspiration and names the 2 driving forces behind Easter Road ambitions

Lewis Miller will always hold hard-tackling Socceroos legend Lucas Neill as his first role model in football. And considering both players came through the ranks at a Sydney-based club called Manly United perhaps their fondness for the physical side of the game should be no surprise.

But while former West Ham and Blackburn ace Neill was the Hibs defender’s top idol it’s a player with Sheffield steel mixed with Scottish blood flowing through his veins who gave him the strength to try mixing it in Europe. Miller reckons the day former Scotland U21 international and Sheffield United icon Nick Montgomery took on the top job at Central Coast Mariners was the moment his own career powered onto a new level.

As a teenager he had made his A-League breakthrough under Alen Stajcic. But it was Montgomery’s faith and guidance after moving into the top job last season after a spell coaching in the club’s academy which made Miller a standout.

Those performances caught the eye of Hibs scouts and after u-turning on a move to Macarthur FC in favour of joining the Lee Johnson revolution in Leith in the summer Miller admits he owes a debt of gratitude to his former boss.

Miller said: “Nick was at Sheffield United and was a legend there as well. When he took the job at Mariners I knew I was going to be in for a good season because he was with me in the academy and he always believed in me and trusted me.

"The second he got that gig I started playing more games, I was more consistent and just getting better and better under his influence. To play under someone with his experience, you look up to him and listen to what he has to say and you just keep getting better."

Miller has had to be patient in his bid to become first choice right back