Newcastle United have welcomed a different Lewis Miley back from injury.
The 18-year-old is fully fit once again, having missed the last seven months due to injury. Lewis Miley has not played for Newcastle United since March, but is available for selection once again.
He has been an unused substitute during Newcastle’s previous two games, with Eddie Howe eager to be careful with Miley given his age and the injuries he has endured.
The Magpies do not need to rush Miley back, but there will be an eagerness to give him some minutes. That could happen on Wednesday night at St James’ Park, as the Carabao Cup game against Chelsea is the ideal match for Miley to make his return.
It will be exciting to see him in action once again, and Howe believes that Miley is a different player to the one who made his breakthrough last season.
Eddie Howe thinks Lewis Miley has changed for the better
Ahead of the Carabao Cup game against Chelsea, Howe has spoken to the media.
He was asked about Miley’s role this season following his return to fitness.
“He’s an outstanding player,” he said.
“He’s shown that coming back to training. You expect to see some rustiness from him technically or some physical development still to go.
“He’s come back looking like a changed athlete. He looks a lot more solid and filled out, which will naturally happen when he gets older. But it looks like he has used his time away from the training pitch really well.
“Technically he’s been really, really good. I’ve got no issue with his game. He’s in a really good place. But he’s very young and had a couple of injuries that have reflected on us overusing him last year. We don’t want him to get injured again.
“Small steps initially but hopefully he can progress into playing some big minutes for us.”
Newcastle United must not overexpose Miley
Given how well he did last season, Newcastle United fans will be keen to see Miley back in action.
The youngster will also be eager to play himself, having been a regular for Eddie Howe last season before missing so much football due to injury.
But Howe knows he needs to be careful and will be calling on the midfielder to be patient. Miley is only 18 and is still developing. His body is still changing, with Howe noting that Miley has filled out. That will help his game, and could make him even more imposing in the middle of the park.
It will be difficult for Miley coming back into the fold. He played more than he ever could have imagined last season. That was down to injury and suspension, with Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Joe Willock all unavailable.
But those players are all back, which means Miley has slipped back down the pecking order. He will hope for a chance against Chelsea in the cup, but a place in the starting XI feels unlikely.
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