The Carabao Cup is the perfect place for Eddie Howe to give some of his Newcastle United youngsters like Lewis Miley minutes, but he might be robbed of that opportunity on Wednesday night.
Newcastle face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the competition this week, and Eddie Howe is expected to make multiple changes to his side as he juggles with competing in the Premier League and Champions League, as well as the Carabao Cup.
The likes of Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are expected to feature against Man United, while there is also hope that Lewis Miley will make his second appearance of the season.
The 17-year-old received his first ever senior start in the previous round against Manchester City, and is surely someone who could come into the side amid Newcastle’s midfield woes.
Elliot Anderson is out injured, while Sandro Tonali is now suspended. That leaves Howe with limited options to rotate, meaning this game is a great opportunity to give Miley another start.
However, that feels unlikely on the eve of the Carabao Cup contest.
Lewis Miley not seen in Newcastle training ahead of Man United
The club have released a selection of training photos ahead of the game against Manchester United, as Howe prepares his players for the trip to Old Trafford.
Emil Krafth features heavily in the pictures, as he potentially prepares to make his first senior appearance since August 2022.
But one player who has not been seen is Miley.
The teenager who Sean Longstaff has called ‘unbelievable’ is yet to return to training, with Howe confirming earlier this month that Miley was suffering from glandular fever.
It sounded like he would be in a race against time to be fit for Man United, and it looks like he is going to lose that race.
That is such a shame, as it is unclear when he will get another chance to start and prove to Howe that he truly can be trusted at senior level.
We will see more of him in the coming months when he does eventually return from illness given Newcastle’s midfield shortage, but this was a great opportunity for Miley to start and seize the opportunity that has fallen at his feet.
Sadly, it looks like that chance is going to pass him by in a cruel twist of fate.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
