Lennon Miller feels his spell as Motherwell captain has accelerated his progression as a vocal member of the team - but he will always prefer to do his talking with his feet.

The 18-year-old first wore the armband at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers on November 3 amid injuries to skipper Paul McGinn and vice-captain Stephen O'Donnell.

The latter is back fit now and pushing for a return to the starting line-up for the Boxing Day trip to Celtic Park, but the experience has resulted in changes in the way Miller has approached matches.

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"You need to speak more," the midfielder said. "Well, you don't need to, but you feel that pressure to speak more as a captain. We've obviously got experienced players who speak anyway without the armband. They've been a massive help to me.

"It's just probably that talking element, but it's been fine.

"Even coming into the season not being the captain, I felt like I was speaking a wee bit more than last year. I think it's just a natural progression.

"Maybe if it's not being the most vocal, it's by showing that desire, that commitment on the pitch so that people take that lead from you. That's what I've always tried to do - lead by example with the ball at my feet.

"I've never been the loudest, never probably will be the loudest. I just try and do my talking with my feet."

The responsibility of a captain has arguably grown recently with the directive that they are the only players who are allowed to approach referees over contentious decisions. There have been plenty of those in recent games for Motherwell.

"It's a new one for me because I tend to never really speak to referees before," Miller said.

"It's a big change being the only one that can speak to them. We've got vocal players who like to speak to the ref and they can't anymore.

"We obviously got Liam Gordon booked the other week for trying to speak to the ref. It's a big change, but another one I've kind of taken to."

The latest controversy saw Dan Casey sent off against Kilmarnock last Friday in what manager Stuart Kettlewell branded the worst decision he had ever seen.

"Listen, they try their best but sometimes they get it wrong and it is what it is," Miller said.

The Scotland Under-21 international's laid-back nature has allowed him to take to his new-found authority without disruption to his form.

"I'm really enjoying it," he said. "It was obviously a proud moment the first time I wore (the armband) and it's still a proud moment every time I do it.

"I just look forward to the games and having the captaincy has not really affected me, I don't think. It's been a proud couple of weeks."