Eddie Howe says no one at Newcastle knows what’s going on with ‘exceptional’ player

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One of the major themes of Newcastle United’s second full season under PIF ownership have been the sheer number of injuries Eddie Howe has had to contend with.

While blaming them and the subsequent fatigue relying on so few players for the busiest campaign Newcastle have had in years causes as the sole reasons for the malaise is up for debate, they cannot be ignored.

Indeed, even the likes of Jurgen Klopp have noted upon it.

It’s felt like Howe has been forced to pick pretty much the same team for most of the season thus far. Even now, things hardly look like improving.

Sven Botman, of course, recently suffered his second serious injury of the season.

Then, there’s Lewis Miley.

Lewis Miley suffered back injury while playing for England U20s

The midfielder, who has been hailed as an “exceptional talent” by Jason Tindall after a rapid-fire rise to a first-team star this season, suffered a back injury while playing for the England U20s.

The 17-year-old is expected to miss around six weeks of action, effectively ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Naturally, the club are believed to be taking a cautious approach when it comes to Miley. They do not want to risk him, particularly at an age when the body is still growing.

In fact, Howe has confirmed no one at the club knows quite what the injury is just yet.

Speaking about the midfielder at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Howe said (via the club’s official X account): “Lewis has come back to us with a back problem, we are seeking specialist opinion on him, we don’t know exactly what it is right now.”

Newcastle cannot afford to risk Lewis Miley

There is little point in trying to rush Miley back from here. While European qualification remains a possibility this season, it’s not as if all of their hopes for that would rest on the teenager even if he were fit.

They are surely better served waiting for the right medical advice and making an informed decision. Patience can be a virtue.