An excellent club with a head coach doing an exceptional job will inevitably lead to Amari Miller’s improvement in the eyes of Lee Bowyer.
The former Leeds United midfielder is now in charge at Birmingham City, who saw the 18-year-old turn down a professional deal and move to West Yorkshire this week.
While Miller only made five appearances for the Championship club, all towards the latter stages of last season, he was highly thought of at St Andrew’s.
The Whites will pay Birmingham an undisclosed fee for Miller because of the work they have done in developing him through their academy.
Speaking to our sister site, BirminghamLive, Bowyer said Miller had made an excellent choice to link up with a club he knows well.
“Is it a blow? You are talking about a young kid that just came on in the last six or seven games of the season,” said Bowyer.
“I introduced him because I like him. Is he ready to go and start Championship games tomorrow? I don’t believe so.
“We would have developed and he would have improved with us and he would have got more game-time with us.
“That’s his decision, you know. He is a young lad, he has gone to a good club, I don’t know what they will do with him, but I have to say the manager there, what he has done is exceptional.
“If he is in and around the first team and training I have no doubt he will learn and improve.
“For his career, I wouldn’t say he has chosen a bad club to go to, I know a lot about the club, it’s an excellent club, but for his development, we will have to wait and see where it goes for now.
“He was a great lad, he tried hard, good ability, so I wish him all the best because he is a really, really nice lad, well-mannered, which is important.”
Bowyer was equally complimentary about Marcelo Bielsa and the Whites across the two occasions he faced them in the Championship with Charlton Athletic.
