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Gareth Fullerton

Gerry Flynn hails Larne midfielder as the "ultimate Irish League player"

Gerry Flynn has described Leroy Millar as the "ultimate Irish League player" because of his relentless pursuit of success on and off the pitch.

Millar joined Larne in the summer from Ballymena United and has played a pivotal role in helping the Invermen surge to the top of the Irish Premiership.

The 27-year-old has already bagged six league goals from midfield, but it's his industry in the gym and on the pitch that has impressed Flynn the most.

Read more: That's What I Call Football podcast S5 Ep 8

Former Irish League player and manager Flynn - who looks after recruitment and pathways at Larne - revealed some of the gruelling stats that have set Millar apart this season.

"Leroy is a machine. The guy is incredible," Flynn told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast

"But again, it is creating that right culture. Leroy is in every morning before 8.30am and is in the gym first. He is eating the right things and his performances have been brilliant.

Larne’s Leroy Millar (INPHO Brian Little)

"And you talk about stats. I think (Martin) Odegaard at Arsenal last Monday night did 11km, and the highest in the English Premiership has been 13km in a game.

"Leroy doesn't drop below 14km in every game. He is an absolute machine. And it is rubbing off on other players.

"Boys are seeing what he is doing. I am saying to them if you can emulate what Leroy is doing then you will get your move to England. Take a leaf out of his book.

"And it is how he is as a person. He just lives and breathes football. He is a credit.

"He is the ultimate Irish League player who is just a machine."

Flynn believes Larne boss Tiernan Lynch has helped nurture a winning culture at Inver Park - one that could see the club clinch a first-ever Premiership title this season.

Since suffering a 4-0 defeat to Glentoran at the end of last month, Larne have racked up convincing wins against Crusaders (4-1) and Dungannon Swifts (4-0).

It sees them sit top of the November standings, just one point ahead of the Glens.

Flynn said: "If you want a good night out, and you have a good bunch of lads, you will have a great night. If there is one gobs**** there, you don't know what will happen.

"I am not talking down on previous players. We have just identified what we want and what we are implementing at the club and the boys are buying into it.

"I didn't realise the detail they put in at this club on a daily basis. Tiernan especially, the hours he puts in is frightening.

"People were giving him unfair criticism last year. It takes three or four years for a manager to come into a club and install the foundations first.

"I think now you are seeing the fruits of that labour, on and off the park, and I can't praise him high enough. You don't see the work he puts in behind the scenes.

"If players are left out, they don't sulk. They see it's about the team and it's a case of we not me.

"It is only November and we are not getting carried away. But so far so good.. And when we did have that hiccup against Glentoran we bounced back with eight goals in two games."

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