Alan Pardew has urged Eddie Howe to pick Lewis Miley in Newcastle United’s starting XI tonight against PSG in the UEFA Champions League.
The 17-year-old midfielder was named from the start this weekend in the Toon’s 4-1 win against Chelsea, with Miley grabbing an assist in what was a strong display for the teenager, with Paul Merson impressed.
And speaking on TalkSport (28/11 8:08am) alongside Ally McCoist, former Newcastle manager Pardew made the claim for why Miley should once again start for the Toon tonight against PSG.
Pardew said: “Well, I think he has to start him and I think he will start him. You know as well as I do being in the game and playing with young players that it’s a different prospect away from home, different pressure.
“And the opposition power when you get on that pitch and there’s someone bossing you and pushing you around and showing experience around you, you can get lost.
“But you know, they tell me that he’s got a calm head, they feel like he’s obviously going to have a great future, so it’s a test. And sometimes as you know, he can just rise to the occasion and have no fear, let’s hope he’s in that mode.”
Lewis Miley should be in Newcastle’s starting XI to face PSG
With injuries piling up and Sean Longstaff already ruled out for tonight’s fixture, all signs point to Miley returning to Newcastle’s starting XI to face PSG.
Having only made his first Premier League start on the weekend, it’s been a whirlwind few days for Miley, who is now seemingly on course to become Newcastle’s latest academy superstar.
Yet with the likes of Pardew now backing the teenager to have a big future, there’s every chance that Miley can be in the XI in what would be the midfielder’s biggest game to date in his career.
Indeed, injuries could force Howe into naming the youngster, yet after the 17-year-old’s performance on Saturday, few fans will be mad to see Miley named in Newcastle’s starting line up later today.
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