McGrain: Miller's time

CELTIC legend Danny McGrain admits he can understand why Liam Miller found the lure of Manchester United too great to resist.

McGrain joined the Hoops as a 17-year-old and spent his entire career at Parkhead where, over 657 appearances, he established himself as one of the greatest full-backs in Britain.

Miller opted to take a different route to McGrain when he decided to sign a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United earlier this month after recently making the breakthrough to the first team at Celtic.

As an under-21 coach at Parkhead, McGrain played his part in nurturing young stars into players good enough at the highest level for Celtic.

He insists only time will tell if Miller made the correct decision to move to Old Trafford at the tender age of 22 but admits any other young player would not turn down the opportunity either.

McGrain said: "Liam Miller is going to Manchester United for nothing. These things happen. We do one per cent and the players do the other 99% with the ability they have.

"Liam took his chance here with both hands scoring good goals in Europe and playing well for the team. He worked his socks off to get there.

"I don't like the idea of pre-contract agreements but I think anyone who goes to a team bigger than Celtic has got to learn something.

"I don't know whether it's the right thing for him to do but if someone had come to me at 22 with an offer like that, it's a hard thing to turn down."