Fri | Mar 29, 2024

UWI FC’s Miller on the rebound

Published:Thursday | March 7, 2019 | 12:00 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer

For the majority of last season, UWI FC’s Ryan Miller was a contender for the Golden Boot before ending the season with 12 goals.

The midfielder, however, had a dip in form late in the campaign, and UWI FC also suffered as they failed to hold their play-off spot.

But although the former St George’s College star has not been as prolific a goalscorer as in the previous season, with only five to his name this year, he pointed out that he has not only played less, but has been creating more for his team, and that limits the number of chances he gets for himself.

“Last season, the chances were coming my way, but this season I am more a creator of chances. I can’t create and be on the end of it at the same time,” he said.

“It’s not a bad season. Last ­season, I scored 12 goals and had four assists. This season, I have five goals and five assists, so I am still doing my job. I am still scoring, still getting assists, and I’m the leading scorer for the team. I missed a lot of matches, and I am still the leading scorer as a midfielder,” he noted.

Miller missed a lot of the ­season due to personal issues. Then, after returning to training, he had to work himself back into condition before the coaches put him back in, but since he returned four matches ago, he has played a huge role, scoring twice and providing two assists. He also expects the team to secure one of the two remaining top-six spots and go on to do well in the play-offs.

“I am confident we will make the play-offs and that we will do ­better this time. We have the ­players; they just have to believe we can do it. When we started the season, it wasn’t like that. Now we are going for the prize; the players are working for each other, and you can see the difference between the beginning of the season and now. Players are hustling. We have a deeper squad, and everybody wants to play,” he said.

His target was eight goals for the season, and he backs himself to deliver for his team from here on.

“As long as I am on the pitch, you can expect goals or assists. I now have five (goals) this season, but I believe I can still reach my ­target. There are four games to go in the regular ­season, then two quarter-finals, two semi-­finals, and a final. I am looking at nine games to get eight goals and achieve my target, and I have that confidence in myself and in the team that we can do it,” he said.