While Newcastle United’s squad isn’t perfect, there is intense competition for places in certain areas.
Following a significant summer outlay, Newcastle United do have a much deeper squad than last season.
Clearly, it’s not absolutely perfect. Newcastle are on the hunt for new signings in the January transfer window, with options currently depleted up front, in central defence and at full-back.
Still, the midfield remains an area of relative strength. Eddie Howe has six central midfield options, all of whom have played this season.
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Summer signing Jacob Ramsey hasn’t fully clicked yet but Lewis Miley certainly has.
The teenager has already scored three goals this season, including a late winner against Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night.
Such has been the impressive nature of his form, Jamie Redknapp believes the 19-year-old will be speaking to Howe about his game time going forward.
Jamie Redknapp says Lewis Miley will be speaking to Eddie Howe about Newcastle United status
Pundit Redknapp was speaking on Sky Sports after watching Miley decide a big game for Newcastle.
The academy graduate, a midfielder by trade, had to operate at right-back amid a series of injuries in that particular area.
Miley played very well and eventually scored a late winner by nodding in a corner to send Newcastle into another semi-final.
Redknapp is of the belief that Miley will soon be speaking to Howe about his game time.
“But in terms of playing in that midfield, you know, you think about Joelinton, [Bruno] Guimaraes, [Sandro] Tonali, it’s very difficult to get in there,” he said.
“So, there’s the flip side of it.
“Okay, you’re training and working with great players every day, but at his age, he wants to play.
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“You know, he’s proved that. He had, you know, he’s obviously had an injury last year, but he’s a top operator.
“He’s a fantastic player. He’s a sort of guy that you wouldn’t want to lose but he, sooner or later, has to think ‘Am I going to force my way into this team?’
“Joelinton is only 29. Guimaraes is the captain. Tonali is a wonderful player. They’ve got a really good midfield as good as anything in the Premier League.
“So it’s never going to be easy, but he’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing banging the door down scoring goals like that. It makes it an easier conversation to go and see Eddie Howe that’s for sure.”
Where Lewis Miley ranks in the Newcastle United squad for minutes played this season
The midfielder is becoming an increasingly important figure at the club, particularly amid Joelinton’s struggles.
In terms of minutes played, however, the teenager ranks relatively lowly in the Newcastle United squad.
Indeed, Miley is 16th in the Newcastle squad for minutes played this season, having amassed a total of 956.
Miley believes he’s good enough to start for Newcastle, and nothing that has happened this season would suggest he’s wrong in that.
With Joelinton no longer the force of old right now, perhaps Miley would be within his rights to demand more game time.
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