'What's wrong with wanting to be best?' - Clarke on Miller

Nations League play-off, first leg: Greece v Scotland

Venue: Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus Date: Thursday, 20 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC One Scotland & iPlayer; listen on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds; live text coverage & in-play clips on the BBC Sport website & app

Head coach Steve Clarke says it is wrong to criticise Lennon Miller after the 18-year-old Motherwell midfielder stated he wants to become the best player in the Scotland squad.

Miller said last week he could achieve that goal in "a couple of months" despite taking part in his first senior camp as Scotland prepare to face Greece in Thursday's first leg of their Nations League play-off, live on the BBC.

The teenager's comments have sparked discussion, with Scotland assistant John Carver suggesting Miller might benefit from a "little bit of guidance".

Fellow midfielder John McGinn empathised with Miller's youthful confidence but suggested he might come to regret such a bold statement.

But Clarke told BBC Scotland: "I think that it's wrong that he's criticised for wanting to improve. He wants to be the best, what's wrong with that?

"Hopefully Lennon comes into this camp and sees how difficult it is to be the best and that should drive him on.

"I'm amazed there has been two or three days' headlines about it because, for me, it is not a headline story. It a young boy who wants to improve.

"What's wrong with that? I'm coming up to 62 and I still want to improve."

Miller's father Lee - a former Scotland striker - thinks "respectful and confident" Lennon gave an "excellent" account of himself when speaking to the media.

But, speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he said his boy was struck by a bout of "word vomit".

"I spoke to him when I came home from work and I said, 'I listened to your interview, it was excellent... two months and you're going to be the best player', and he just laughed and thought, 'oh I know, I know, I messed up'.

"And I said 'no, you've got belief in yourself'. Obviously the words didn't come out right, but that's word vomit.

"When you're put in front of that camera, when you're asked so many questions, you feel as if you have to say something and he's just blurted that out.

"He probably never thought about it at the time, but when I was winding him up about it he just kind of laughed and thought 'aw naw'."