Miller made tough decision - McGrain

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 has played his part in nurturing young stars into players good enough to play 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 but 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.”

McGrain – along with former Rangers’ stars Mark Hateley and Sandy Jardine - was at Hampden Park today to launch Old Firm scratchcards which will benefit youth development at both clubs.

And McGrain believes the current financial climate means bringing through home-grown talent is more important now than ever before for the Old Firm.

But the former Hoops star believes those financial restrictions are now benefiting the Scotland national team and he insists Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has played his part by giving Scottish youngsters a chance at Celtic.

McGrain said: “Rainer Bonhof [Scotland under-21 manager] has perhaps reaped the benefit of the youth development over the last couple of years because he has a lot of good young players coming through.

“At Celtic there’s Ross Wallace, Shaun Maloney and John Kennedy and it’s good for us to show that our youth development is working.”

He added: “I think over the next few years we’ll have more players good enough to play in the first team at Celtic, depending on Martin’s thoughts.

“He is the main man but has already given young players the opportunity to get to that level.”