PNE will look to bounce back from Saturday’s thrashing against West Brom – when they head to Leicester on Wednesday night
Preston North End strive to recruit the right people as well as players and Liam Millar looks as though he ticks both of those boxes.
The Canadian’s spell at Deepdale is still very much in its infancy, but he has shown the Lilywhites’ faithful what he is capable of. Millar scored a fine solo goal on debut against Plymouth Argyle and has displayed his direct dribbling ability in matches, operating in a variety of roles but predominantly at left wing-back.
Millar’s last outing was his toughest assignment yet – individually and collectively. West Brom thrashed Preston 0-4 on Saturday afternoon, to inflict the first league defeat on Ryan Lowe’s side in their ninth match of the campaign. While the manner of the defeat was tough to take, Millar remained incredibly measured post-match and emphasised the importance of learning.
“I think, for my age, I have played a lot of games in my career,” he said. “I just try to look at everything with a bigger picture and not get so focused on everything now, now and now. I think that was one of my issues when I was younger and it used to affect me a lot, because I would think I didn’t have a great game and still be thinking about it in the next game. I think, now, I can just really move on and say to myself: ‘Okay, today wasn’t great, but what am I going to do throughout the week to make sure next week isn’t the same?’ And then it’s all better; I think it comes with experience.”
On the whole, Millar is content with his start to life in the Championship after arriving on loan from FC Basel on transfer deadline day. The division offers a whole new challenge to the Swiss Super League and one Millar is embracing. On the back of his fourth appearance, in which he had plenty of attention from Albion defenders, the Canadian knows he must prepare for more of those tests.
“I think, with the type of player I am, I’ll come across things like this,” said Millar. “I just have to try and find solutions to get out of it. The game was difficult for me, with two or three players on me every time I got on the ball. I had to pass it and move on and do whatnot. I think that is something I have to learn and get better at. When these situations come for me, how do I get out of it? How do I impact the game in another way? But, that is the whole part of me being young, trying to learn and coming here to gain the experience. It is a challenge coming to this level. They will have video analysis, see the team and if they see me as a threat they will obviously try to stop me.
