The ‘Moston Menace’ as he has become nicknamed, played as a striker at Manchester City at youth and reserve level, but actually featured as an attacking midfielder for City’s first team.  He signed professionally for the Manchester club at the start of the 2005/06 campaign, and played a number of pre season friendlies.  These, alongside impressive performances in the City reserves finally earned him a first team debut as a sub in March 2006 against fellow Premiership side Wigan Athletic.  It proved to be Miller’s first and last first team appearance of the season, although he did finish as the reserves top scorer.

 Miller played a fundamental role in pre season during July and August 2006, which again earned him first team recognition.  This time he made four substitute appearances in City’s first six league games, and finally made a full debut for Manchester City on 23^rd September that year, in a 2-0 victory over West Ham, during which he created the play which set up one of City’s goals.

But Miller’s Manchester City career never really kick started more than that, and in the summer of 2007 several championship sides reported an interest in taking the young striker on loan.  Baggies boss Tony Mowbray revealed he was looking for a powerful striker, one who could “increase competition for places with the other strikers we’ve already got at the club”.  During July it was believed Miller would make a loan move to Preston North End, who themselves expected to contend for promotion that forthcoming season.  But on 13^th August Mowbray finally bagged his man, signing the City striker on a 12 month loan deal.

In a statement from the club about the signing of Miller, Mowbray introduced him as a “Big, quick, powerful lad who is looking for an opportunity to play more regularly”.  He did not disappoint.  Ishmael scored in his debut for the Baggies, ironically scoring 1 of the 2 goals against Preston, the side who had initially tried to sign him.

On his first start for Albion he scored one of the four goals which sent Ipswich crashing to a heavy defeat at the Hawthorns.  His form during October earned him a nomination for a player of the month award, although he lost out in the end to Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross.  During November Miller earned himself an England Under-21 call up in recognition of his hard work.

Miller has been an instant hit with Baggies fans, and many hope the striker will make his move permanent in the summer of 2008.  But his great start and ability to form a successful strike partnership with Phillips has also grabbed the attention of current Manchester City gaffer Sven Goren Eriksson, who has revealed recently that he believes Ishmael Miller is still very much part of his long term plans at City.

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