Joe Buck takes a look at what the future could hold for Lewis Miley and why now could be his 'golden opportunity' to impress Eddie Howe and stake a claim for a regular Newcastle United starting spot.
00:00Is this Lewis Miley's time to shine at Newcastle United now?
00:04We all remember he burst onto the scene during their last Champions League campaign back in 2023.
00:10Injury issues to pretty much everyone in the squad meant that Eddie Howe's options were really limited.
00:15Miley was someone who was brought in to plug a gap in midfield and to be fair he did brilliantly.
00:20He didn't look out of place in any of the games he'd played and constantly he matched up against teams like PSG, Chelsea, Manchester United.
00:31You know, really good teams, really European elite teams.
00:35Miley looked brilliant in that midfield.
00:37Of course an injury at the end of that season sort of interrupted his progress.
00:42And then last season an injury in summer delayed his start of the season and eventually started getting back to the first team towards the end of the campaign.
00:50Now, it's, you know, it's not expecting that Miley will become a regular starter.
00:55Of course, when he burst into the team, everyone hoped that this, that would be his chance he would stick in it.
01:00And that would be him for the next however long decade or decade and a half.
01:04Football rarely goes like that and it's not a surprise to see him sort of drop down to the fringes of the first team.
01:09But now is, is now the opportunity for him to really, to really grasp the chance to lay down a marker and prove to Eddie Howe why he should be one of his, the first names on his team sheet.
01:19Now, we all know the midfield three of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tornoli, Joel Linton have been brilliant over the last sort of calendar year.
01:27Over the last 12 months, really, you know, those three are among the very best in the Premier League.
01:32But someone like Miley, with all the games that are coming up, you know, and I guess they'll have now three midweek games, four Premier League games for the next international break.
01:40That's a lot of football that we played, plus then the busy festive period of games in the Champions League, Premier League, hopefully Carabao Cup, as well to come after the next international break.
01:48So it's a really important time for people like Miley to really show Eddie Howe what he can do on the pitch.
01:56This season has been ups and downs for him.
01:59I think he's sometimes played a little bit safe.
02:01I think the big thing that people noticed when he first broke into the team was how brave he was in possession, how he always looked forward to the passes and how he could unlock that door.
02:09If you remember the one, one of his first starters, first assist, I think, for Alexander Izak, he played a lovely little ball.
02:17When everyone thought he was going to shoot, he just knocked it into Izak's path.
02:20He took a touch and scored.
02:21It's that type of, you know, football, those type of little passes you want to see from him.
02:25And now I think that now is the chance for him to really make a claim, you know, they're going to be rotation.
02:31There has to be Eddie Howe.
02:32You know, he even dropped Bruno Guimaraes or rested Bruno Guimaraes last month.
02:36That didn't used to happen.
02:37That just shows the level of options he's got.
02:39Miley should be someone that can really take the ball by the horns, really, either in that sort of defensive midfield role instead of Tonali as part of a two or even maybe as an eight.
02:50Although I don't think he's mobile enough for that just yet.
02:52Maybe his six is his best role.
02:55Actually, he can be the person that goes, right, this is my time to impress.
03:00You know, he seems to be the next midfielder on that ranks.
03:02Of course, Jacob Ramsey to come back in.
03:04But he seems to be either fourth or fifth option.
03:05Certainly, head of Joe Willock in the pecking order.
03:07That maybe, you know, this could be the time for Miley to impress.
03:11I would love to see it.
03:12I think everyone, every Newcastle fan would love to see it.
03:14Of course, there's nothing better than seeing someone come through the ranks and play for the first team.
03:17We've all seen what happened with Elliot Anderson and wish he could be that.
03:20Guy in the midfield.
03:22But, you know, it wouldn't have happened if he'd stayed in Newcastle.
03:24He wouldn't be the player he was now if he'd stayed in Newcastle.
03:26But hopefully Miley can have that opportunity.
03:29And I really do think this is his golden chance.
03:31I'd love to know what you think about Lewis Miley.
03:33Whether you think this by the time of talk, maybe in December, he's actually grasped opportunity.
03:37Or whether you think that actually he needs another few months and even maybe a loan spell out to sort of develop and become a first team regular.
03:44I'd love to hear what you think.
03:45So please let me know.
03:46And of course, the best way to stay up to date with all the latest in Cass United news is with the Shields Gazette.
Be the first to comment