Enzo who?! Chelsea upstaged by Miley masterclass for wounded Newcastle
Suraj Radia
- 25 Nov 2023 12:52 CST
- 3 min read
With more than 12 players unavailable to Eddie Howe, Newcastle were desperate for their frail squad to carry them to victory against Chelsea – and no player showcased their ability to handle the pressure than 17-year-old Lewis Miley.
The teenager has been unwittingly thrust into the limelight in recent weeks due to the absences of midfielders such as Sandro Tonali, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock but Miley was among the best players on the pitch in the 4-1 win at St James’ Park.
Miley provided composure, technique and vision beyond his years when he ushered a pass through Chelsea’s defence to assist Alexander Isak’s first half opener and it is testament to his performance that the youngster did not look out of place competing with Chelsea’s £100 million midfielders such as Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
Few would see Miley’s display and believe they were watching a player making only his third ever senior start, with Howe previously describing him as ‘one of the best 17-year-olds I have ever seen.’
However, Miley was not the only makeshift solution in Howe’s team, with Newcastle’s bench consisting of three goalkeepers, four youth players and two outfielders with less than 100 combined minutes of Premier League football in the past two years.
Yet Newcastle made easy work of Chelsea’s billion-pound squad, displaying the commitment and determination to overcome their rivals and prove their winning ability no matter who is on the pitch.
Newcastle reaping the benefits from elite management and team chemistry
Among Newcastle’s goalscorers was captain Jamaal Lascelles, who himself has come in from the cold following Sven Botman’s long-term injury, with the 30-year-old making his 11th straight appearance in all competitions, having only made six starts in the whole of last season.
It has been a display of ‘next man up’ mentality from Newcastle, with Lascelles an example of players who have patiently waited for their opportunity yet having always supported his teammates ahead of him in the pecking order.
Howe’s management has kept players happy despite limited minutes and his coaching has elevated the performances of the entire squad while also keeping them match sharp, ensuring players like Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie can contribute despite neither having started in the Premier League in two seasons.
Newcastle’s injury woes have somewhat prevented them from being able to reach their full potential, with the Magpies sitting sixth in the Premier League and bottom of their Champions League ‘group of death’.
However, the development shown on the pitch combined with the togetherness shown off it is intangible to Newcastle’s success and highlights why the sky is the limit when their hamstrung squad returns to full fitness.
