Newcastle United teenage star Lewis Miley has offered an insight into Eddie Howe’s selection policy this season – insisting patience is the key.
The 18-year-old should know after starting just one Premier League match this season and sitting through nine unused substitute appearances so far in all competitions. Miley has revealed he discovered he’d been handed his first top flight start in almost 12 months after being told in training by Howe.
Miley – who has overcome foot and back injuries in the last 12 months – told Chronicle Live: “I think every player’s got to wait for the opportunity. And I think against Forest that I’ve done well and hopefully I can keep pushing on that and building on my performance.
“We tend to find out in training. I was just really happy when I got told I was starting.
“It was really another good feeling playing in the shirt. I think every team you play against is top in this level. I don’t think anyone’s really bad. I think you’ve just got to take it game by game and look at your opponent and get the better of them, really.”
Miley was given a hint that he was getting close to a start when Howe built up praise after the 4-0 defeat at Man City. That day he was the only player singled out for his performance levels after the majority of the team struggled against the champions.
The Stanley lad was determined to simply play a part in the response to the City thrashing, coming on for Joe Willock at half-time and helping to stabilise United’s performance. Miley said: “It felt important that there was a response today.
“It was good to get 45 minutes to show what I can do. I thought I did really well, and I think it was good for us to go back into this game, and I think that helped us for a bit of confidence, too.”
Miley brings youthful exuberance to the table for Newcastle but also confidence, with Howe using the word ‘bravery’ around the teenager’s performances in a recent Press conference.
The Academy product said: “I think I just believe in myself really. And I think us as a group, we just believe in ourselves and believe we can reach big things. I think that’s what you’ve just got to look at and keep believing, really.”
Miley will be hoping to retain his starting spot at Anfield on Wednesday, though with Sandro Tonali and Joelinton closing in on returns after fitness issues, the competition is fierce. United have not won a Premier League fixture at Liverpool since 1994. So can this finally be the year to end that awful run?
Miley said: “Yeah, definitely. I think us as a team, we’ve got a strong group, and I believe we can beat anyone. I think we’ve got to keep looking at that game by game.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lewis-miley-drops-hint-eddie-31074166
