When Newcastle United were looking for a manager after Steve Bruce, Steven Gerrard was heavily linked with taking over.
He was Rangers boss at the time, and there was a lot of speculation surrounding the new Newcastle owners whisking him away from Glasgow to become the Magpies’ new boss.
That did not happen, and Newcastle were actually criticised in the media for appointing Eddie Howe over Gerrard, who moved to Aston Villa soon after. The Toon owners were told they lacked ambition, but that has not proven to be the case.
Eddie Howe is thriving, while Steven Gerrard did not last long at Villa Park and is now managing in Saudi Arabia.
But while his managerial career is leaving a lot to be desired, there is no denying that Gerrard is one of the greatest midfielders that the Premier League has ever seen. He is a Liverpool legend, and someone who has inspired a generation of midfielders.
Being compared to Gerrard is a massive compliment, which brings us to Newcastle United sensation Lewis Miley.
Crooks says Lewis Miley reminds him of Steven Gerrard
After scoring his first ever senior goal against Fulham, Miley has been named in Garth Crooks’ Premier League Team Of The Week for BBC Sport, who has compared the 17-year-old to Steven Gerrard.
“It looks like Newcastle United may have unearthed another gem,” he wrote.
“Lewis Miley is his name and his game reminds me more of a Steven Gerrard than a Paul Gascoigne. More comfortable on his left side than he is on his right, but that didn’t seem to matter the way he struck the ball so sweetly with his right foot to score his first goal for his club.
“Miley has come into the Newcastle side at the right time. The team are bursting with good professionals who will look after him. In fact, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon were instrumental in supporting Miley’s game on the day.”
Miley will look to create a similar legacy at Newcastle
That is incredible praise from Crooks. I do wonder how much it will mean to Miley, as the fear is that he is actually too young to even truly appreciate how good Gerrard was!
If Miley can go on to have the career that Gerrard did, he will certainly have reached his potential. This is a man who captained his boyhood club and lifted multiple honours, including the Champions League. It would be the stuff of legend if Miley is able to do that in black and white.
For now, the midfielder will be focussed on keeping his feet on the ground. It has been a whirlwind few weeks for him, and the noise has only got louder after his goal against Fulham.
It was fantastic to see him score in front of the Gallowgate and feel the love from the Toon Army, but he will be taking it all in his stride. He seems incredibly level-headed, which is an excellent trait to have for someone so talented yet so young.
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