STUART Pearce has thrown down an Eastlands gauntlet to latest rising star Ishmael Miller.

The Blues' boss has told the 18-year-old that he must go on improving if he is to keep on-loan World Cup ace DaMarcus Beasley out of the left-midfield slot.

Miller, who completely froze on his debut as a substitute last season, was close to being man-of-the-match when he was given a first chance to start against West Ham on Saturday.

The teenager, one of four Academy graduates in the starting side that downed the Hammers and immediately relieved the growing pressure on boss Pearce, made one goal with a lung bursting 60-yard run and gave the Londoners a torrid time until he was replaced to a standing ovation late in the contest.

Pearce refused to accept that it had been a risk to prefer Miller's raw pace and power to the experience of either of the American internationals Claudio Reyna or Beasley that he had on the bench.

"I don't think playing Ishmael was a gamble," he said. "What I have found out is that people in the stands have their own opinion about who they think should play and who shouldn't but what they sometimes don't take into account when they see my selections is that I see these players training day in and day out and that influences my selection.

"We had a tough week last week and it would possibly have been easy for me to put senior players out on Saturday but I kept faith with the likes of Micah Richards who set a decent tempo to the game and brought in Ishmael.

Exciting

"When he made his debut for this club last season he was like a rabbit caught in the headlights but he has shown an aptitude in training to want to learn and to want to be a better player.

"He is an exciting player to watch when he is in flow that's for sure. I wouldn't like to play against him," said Pearce.

"Ishmael has all credentials," Pearce said. "He has the pace, a little bit of aggression and he can finish. It has been a little bit of a mental thing with him. Saturday will have done more for his confidence than all the hours of coaching we have put into him.

"Now he cannot relax and rest on his laurels. He must come in every morning and ask how can he get better."

"People may say that you cannot coach concentration but you have to try. It has to become habit. You have to keep coaching, coaching and coaching and then coach some more," concluded Pearce. "We have now seen the benefit of that approach.

"If I get to a stage eventually that my staff and I have been knocking on a particular door for too long then we simply go and knock on a different player's door and hope the message drops there."

Miller admits the memory of his first start for the Blues is one that will remain with him for a long time.

"It was a great feeling and a great day, it's one that I'll never forget," he said after the euphoria had settled.

"The crowd were tremendous, they gave me the extra lift I needed. They were like the 12th man and they really helped me through the game."