Eddie Howe has commended Lewis Miley for his impressive physical growth, despite being sidelined for seven months at Newcastle United.
A back injury sidelined Lewis Miley for the latter part of last season, but despite the setback, the 18-year-old has impressed in his return to action. Given the club’s injury struggles, Miley was thrown into tough matches, including high-pressure games against Paris Saint-Germain and Sunderland, as well as 18 Premier League appearances. Although Newcastle could have rushed him back, Howe opted for a more cautious approach, allowing Miley time to fully recover.
Unfortunately, just as Miley was set to make his return, a metatarsal fracture disrupted his progress, leading to a frustrating seven-month period on the sidelines. This setback served as a reminder that, despite his impressive performances last season, he is still on the path to fully breaking into top-level football.
Miley has spent the last four Premier League games on the bench and featured for just a minute in the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea. However, his time with England Under-21s, totaling 79 minutes in matches against Spain and the Netherlands, helped him regain match sharpness ahead of the West Ham United clash.
In his pre-match press conference, Eddie Howe praised Miley’s physical development, noting how far he has come. “When you look at Lewis now compared to when he first broke into the team, he’s noticeably developed more muscle definition,” Howe said. “His biggest development is physical. He’s worked hard through his injury and looks like an unbelievable athlete now. To play for England Under-21s at 18 shows how highly they regard him, and I think his career is in a good place.”
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