- 22 hours ago
How success could be costing Newcastle their BRIGHTEST talent
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 18 Apr 2025 11:28 CDT
- 5 min read
Analysis
Newcastle have been flying high in recent weeks but success could prove to be a double-edged sword for Eddie Howe after Fabrizio Romano revealed the Magpies may be in danger of losing one of their brightest talents this summer.
Howe’s side are on a run of 19 wins in their last 24 games which has led to Newcastle lifting domestic silverware for the first time in 70 years and leaving them in pole position to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano Transfer News featuring Neymar, Kevin de Bruyne and Barcelona
A huge part of Newcastle’s rise has been the performance of their midfield trio of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, who have developed a rhythm to outclass the Premier League’s top sides with an endless supply of workrate, aggression and sheer class.
Current ETV
Lewis Miley
M (C)
Newcastle Utd.
Lewis Miley
M (C)
Newcastle Utd.
ETV Range
€25.6M - €31.3M
However, the emergence of a steady midfield has led to limited opportunities for squad players including teenager Lewis Miley, who Romano claimed has attracted interest from Premier League and Bundesliga sides after finding first team minutes hard to come by this season.
While Newcastle are under no pressure to sell Miley or any first team star this summer, the chemistry of the Magpies’ world class midfield may see the 18-year-old be destined for another season on the bench even with the addition of European football next year.
Having seen academy graduate Elliot Anderson flourish after his move to Nottingham Forest last summer, Miley may grow frustrated if his development stagnates and Howe will need to handle the situation with caution to ensure the right pathway for the player and Newcastle.
READ MORE: Latest Newcastle transfer news
Newcastle may be forced to change Howe strategy to avoid Anderson repeat
Miley proved integral for Newcastle during an injury crisis last season, displaying maturity and ability beyond his years and eventually ending the campaign with three goals and one assist from 14 Premier League starts.
However, despite playing more than 1200 league minutes last season, Miley has accumulated just 219 this year and has often seen teammates Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff given minutes off the bench ahead of him.
STATS
Lewis Miley
M (C)
Newcastle Utd.
Lewis Miley
M (C)
Newcastle Utd.
The decline in game time has been through no fault of Miley’s, having suffered a long-term injury in the summer that only saw him play his first minutes of the season at the end of December.
Howe has been determined not to rush Miley back and force him into more action than necessary and causing burnout in a young player, particularly while he still acclimatises to regular first team football and with no need to reshuffle the side.
Newcastle fans, too, will recall similar complaints over Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon early in their careers at the club, with Howe refusing to gamble on their regular inclusions in the team until their fitness and tactical acumen reached his high standards, particularly while things are going well on the pitch.
But Miley may look at the progress of Anderson in envy, having perhaps had a better campaign than his former teammate last season, yet the ex-Newcastle youngster has been a revelation since moving to Forest and could soon be on the verge of an England call-up.
Ultimately Howe’s pragmatism, which saw players like Anderson and Miley used sparingly in his side, also inadvertently limited their opportunities to develop a true role in midfield and prove their ability as a starter, instead leaving them perhaps content to simply be playing at all for their boyhood club.
Consequently, Miley may feel that a move away from St James’ Park is the best option for him to develop, although that departure would certainly come as a loan rather than the reluctant permanent sale Newcastle were forced into with Anderson in order to comply with PSR.
Miley will undoubtedly get more minutes next season with more games to play but a loan to a Premier League or Bundesliga side could see the teenager return as an infinitely better player than the odd sub appearance would grant him, giving Newcastle and Howe a tough choice to make this summer.
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