Lewis Miley On Newcastle United Standby Amid Joe Willock Doubts And Fresh Joelinton Injury Blow
Newcastle United midfielder Lewis Miley has been put on standby for the weekend clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.......➡️CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLES HERE.
With Joelinton suffering from a knee injury, reports have emerged claiming that the Brazil international will not only miss the trip to the South Coast, but is set to be ruled out for the rest of the season. The £40million man missed the 3-0 victory over Ipswich Town after suffering a setback in training last week.
Eddie Howe threw Joe Willock an opportunity from the start with 18-year-old Miley afforded a 23-minute run out in the second half. Miley is keen for a run in the side after making just a solitary Premier League start this term when he scored in the 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest.
If Joelinton is confirmed to be out, Howe must be decide on whether the time is right to start Miley against the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium. Miley has not looked happy in recent weeks as he waits for his opportunity, but he isn’t alone with North Shields lad Sean Longstaff also without a chance from the start since December in the Premier League.
Willock did not make a major impression against Ipswich and Howe knows he will need plenty of energy at Brighton which brings Miley back into the picture. The teenager also offers extra control.
Reports on the circuit suggested that Premier League and Bundesliga clubs were monitoring Miley’s position ahead of the summer market last week. But since then, Miley is believed to have had some reassurances from Howe on his future.
And Howe said publicly last week: “Lewis is absolutely pivotal to our future here. From my perspective, he’s going absolutely nowhere. We want to build the team with him in it, for many, many years, that’s my thought process.”
Miley made 26 appearances last season before suffering a back injury. The Academy product then damaged his foot during an off season running incident which held him back from appearing at the start of this season.
Howe admitted that it had been tough on Miley to miss out on a start against Ipswich, with Willock getting the mod as the United management felt he was better suited to the role.
“It was a tough decision but I think Joelinton has played on the left for us,” the Newcastle United head coach said. “Joe Willock is a natural player that wants to play on the left, although he’s right footed, very similar to Joelinton.
“So we tried to keep the rhythm of the team rather than bring someone who maybe prefers to play on the right like Lewis. So that was behind my thinking.”