By Jon Couch
Carshalton Athletic striker Mikel Miller has been given a chance of top-flight football – at Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical.
The 21-year-old fans favourite has scored 21 goals in 32 games for the Bostik South Robins this season, including the fifth in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over East Grinstead Town.
Miller, who made his first-team debut at the club as a 17-year-old, attended Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy last season, earning himself a summer trial at Sheffield Wednesday.
Now, however, he is set to ply his trade north of the border after the Robins agreed terms with the Accies as they bid to maintain their top-flight status in Scotland.
His move comes in a week where two more Step 3 players have attracted the attentions of Football League scouts.
Stratford Town striker Ben Stephens, 21, was rewarded for his 17 goals in the Evo-Stik South this season by being invited by Coventry City for a trial.
Stephens, who recently turned down a move to league rivals Banbury United, has also been invited to train with Championship side Ipswich Town next week.
Stratford boss Carl Adams said: “Whilst we wish to retain our talent at Stratford, we will not stand in the way when we receive the right opportunities for our players.
“We are pleased Ben is being given these opportunities, with the latest being at Coventry.”
Another player looking to make the step up is Brightlingsea Regent midfielder Rob Harvey, who has been invited to train with Championship side Millwall this week.
Harvey, who has previously trialled at Ipswich and West Ham, has attracted a number of scouts to the Taydal Stadium this season and will play in an in-house Lions’ Under 23 fixture on Thursday.
Regent boss Tom Rothery said: “Everyone should be striving to be the best they can be, either by moving up with the club, as has happened in the past, or naturally outgrowing the club and moving onto bigger and better things.
“I don’t want players here who are just content to stay at this level. I don’t want them to be satisfied with that. I want them to become better and we’re at that level now where other clubs – professional clubs, in some instances – come and watch players.
“It’s a great shop window for all the players and everyone has to have that dream and ambition.”