The surprise player Eddie Howe wants to build his Newcastle United team around

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Eddie Howe is already planning years down the line at Newcastle United.

November marked Eddie Howe’s three-year anniversary as Newcastle United manager. Ironically, it came during a really difficult time for the Toon boss.

Newcastle were going through a tough run of results and questions were asked of Howe’s future at the club. However, the progress he has made at St James’ Park over the past three years is undeniable.

Eddie Howe answered his critics in emphatic fashion by leading Newcastle on an eight-game winning streak across all competitions. That could become nine when Newcastle face Wolves in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.

After a slow start to the season, Howe has found his strongest XI – partly down to a deeper midfield for Sandro Tonali. In particular, Newcastle’s midfield is brilliant with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton making up a perfect trio with the Italian.

But Howe is already planning ahead and reports suggest he wants to build his Newcastle side around a midfielder who has only played 102 minutes this season.

Eddie Howe wants to build Newcastle around Lewis Miley

Lewis Miley missed the start of the 2024/25 season through injury but he made his return in December with two substitute appearances against Aston Villa and Ipswich Town.

Howe wanted to be extra careful with Miley to avoid a repeat of his injury, but he trusted the 18-year-old with a full 90-minute display in the 3-1 win over Bromley in the FA Cup.

After making an early mistake that led to Bromley’s opener, Miley was superb against Bromley and he marked his return to the starting lineup with an incredible goal from range.

Newcastle fans raved about Miley after the full-time whistle and argued he should be ahead of Sean Longstaff in the pecking order.

According to the Daily Mail, Howe is such a big admirer of Miley that he wants to build his future Newcastle side around the academy star.

Eddie Howe sends Lewis Miley transfer warning to PIF

Over the summer transfer window, Howe was forced to sell Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest to help Newcastle avoid a PSR breach and a points deduction.

He has very openly admitted ever since that he did not want to sell Anderson and Howe has now warned Newcastle chiefs and PIF that the club can never put themselves in a similar situation again.

“The last thing we want to do, or I want to do as the manager of the club, is to sell academy products who have the potential to play for this team for many years,” said Howe.

READ MORE: Eddie Howe raves about Newcastle United teenager, says he’s ‘a bit of everything’

Howe is indirectly referring to Miley, who from a PSR perspective will be an extremely lucrative asset at St James’ Park.

Howe warned that ‘business logic’ could dictate transfers at Newcastle as the club continues to wrestle with financial regulations, but one thing that is completely off the cards is Miley being sold.