Newcastle United have a teenager amongst their ranks that is considered a key component of the long-term PIF project.
Since the takeover in October 2021 the Magpies have by and large signed well. High-profile signings have naturally transformed the first team, with Sandro Tonali now showing us what we missed last season; it’s only Harvey Barnes we are yet to see the best of.
Our scouting network has evidently expanded with a number of signings arriving at youth level, including Trevan Sanusi who made his first team debut against Bromley in the FA Cup on the weekend, but it is a youngster who was already on our ranks that is generating excitement internally.
According to The Mail’s Craig Hope, Eddie Howe has big plans for Lewis Miley and hopes to ‘build his team around’ the Geordie midfielder in years to come.
Miley scored a rocket in his first start of the season in a man of the match performance against Bromley on Sunday after a smattering of Premier League minutes off the bench after his return from a metatarsal fracture.
The Stanley-born midfielder’s sharp rise to the first team came about in the 2023/24 season with Tonali’s suspension no doubt playing a part, but was further accelerated by the injuries of Joe Willock.
If Howe sees the 18-year-old as a long-term part of his midfield then minutes must be managed carefully, especially when our current midfield trio are blocking his route to starts, for now.
Howe considers Miley to be able to play in any of the three midfield positions, with the teenager bolstered for his defensive work having returned from injury having filled out physically.
“He is a bit of everything (No 6, 8 and 10),” said Howe when discussing Miley’s best position. “I wouldn’t want to label him as one position at the moment. He has played really well as a 6 and I loved him in that position on Sunday. He got a lot of the ball and took that responsibility excellently.
“But he has the ability to play as an 8. When he played last year, the majority of the time he was the higher position. I remember him scoring and assisting. He’s certainly got great legs.
“What he has added in his time out is a bit more physicality, more power. His aerial ability is improving as well. He is very much an all-rounder who can do a bit of everything.”
The midfield three of Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton will be hard to break into on current form but Miley has given a good enough account of himself to be knocking on the door for minutes. I’d consider him our fourth choice as it stands – and no doubt he’ll be pushing to move up the rankings as soon as possible.