‘Going to sit down’…Eddie Howe says he will talk to Newcastle player after Luton defeat

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Saturday proved another pretty miserable day on the road for Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side continued in their dreadful run of away form as they were beaten at Luton thanks to Andros Townsend’s goal.

Newcastle have won away from home in the Premier League only once all season and losing to the Hatters, who are fighting relegation, has to be one of the more disappointing results of Howe’s entire tenure thus far.

In truth, it could well have been more and Luton were good value for their victory.

It was also a pretty bleak day for young Lewis Miley. A week on from the incredible high of scoring his first professional goal against Fulham, the teenager was brought off in the first-half.

Howe has now confirmed what the thinking behind that was.

Lewis Miley: Why Eddie Howe brought Newcastle midfielder off in the first-half against Luton

Speaking after the game, Howe confirmed the decision to replace Miley with Alexander Isak was purely a tactical one rather than based off his performance.

“Controlling his minutes is something I have wanted to do anyway,” he said (via The Chronicle).

“So I did not look at it based on his performance. It was not based on his performance. I know it was based on a tactical decision. He should have no problems. He is so young, we want to control his football as well.”

When asked if he was going to speak to Miley, Howe added: “Yeah, I am going to sit down and talk to him of course. It was not something I planned to do.

“It was something instinctive because we weren’t good in the game and we needed to make a change. But there will be no problems with him he will totally understand.”

Lewis Miley: A tough day for Newcastle sensation

While its good to hear Miley wasn’t brought off for his performance, being replaced at that early stage can hardly be a good thing for his confidence.

Still, such has been the rapid-fire way in which he’s adapted to life at the top level, Miley would certainly appear to have the tools to deal with it.

Already impressing in both the Premier League and the Champions League, he has an awfully long time to put it past him.