Mickel Miller explains why he rejected Championship interest to join Huddersfield Town

New Huddersfield Town signing Mickel Miller has expressed confidence that he is “in the right place” upon completing his move to the Terriers.

The 28-year-old has joined Town on a two-year deal following the expiration of his contract at Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle. Miller has opted to drop down a division to sign for the Terriers, with the wing-back turning down the offer of a new deal with the Pilgrims.

The left-sided player also reportedly had interest from a number of Championship clubs, but the new recruit is clear that this move is the right one for him to make.

Read more: Huddersfield Town dealt transfer blow as striker joins League One rivals

“I’m happy to finally be here. The deal has taken a while, but we got it done,” Miller told HTTV. “Growing up, I always saw Huddersfield on TV and stuff, where they were such a big club. These things never leave my mind, of the stature of the club.

“Obviously circumstances last season, it happens to teams, so I just know that I’m in the right place. I’ve done my praying, I’ve done my speaking to family, and it’s just my gut instinct.”

Miller started his career in non-league with Carshalton Athletic, where he scored 61 goals in 163 appearances for the Isthmian League South Division outfit. The left-sided player was recruited by then Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical in January 2018, with the wide man going on to make a further 68 appearances in all competitions for the Accies in a two-and-a-half year spell.

“It was crazy. I was playing non-league at the time, and I was doing well, and then a team in Scotland, Hamilton Academical, was watching me, and before I knew it I was in Scotland,” Miller reflected.

“It was good, it taught me so much. Being on my own, I learned a lot about myself, and I wouldn’t change it for the world because it made me who I am today.”

Miller went on to sign for Rotherham United in July 2020, where he featured nine times in his first season at the club before joining Northampton Town on loan for the second half of the campaign.

The 28-year-old returned to make 30 appearances for the Millers in the 2021/22 season, with his side going on to secure promotion to the Championship and win the EFL Trophy.

“Obviously it being the first cup win and then promotion, it sat very deep with me (his spell at Rotherham),” Miller said.

The wing-back departed the Millers at the end of their promotion-winning campaign and returned to League One with Plymouth Argyle. The 28-year-old was limited to making just 12 appearances for the Pilgrims in his first season due to injury, as his side went on to win League One with 101 points.

However, the defender went on to feature 37 times in all competitions for the Championship outfit last term, as they avoided the drop on the final day of the season.

“It was a tough season with Plymouth, obviously we ended up staying up,” said Miller. “I had niggles at the end of the season, but these things come in football, you can’t really take it to heart. You’ve got to try and brush it off and keep going, because football goes up and down.”

Miller has joined Town during the second week of pre-season and is pleased to have finalised his move several weeks before the start of the campaign.

“I think that’s important, obviously getting in and around the boys, feeling relaxed and that team aura,” Miller said. “Sometimes you can come in and feel a bit distant from everyone, so it’s nice to get in early and get that understanding of everyone.”