It was probably overshadowed by a 4-0 win featuring a brilliant Alexander Isak hat-trick and Jacob Murphy’s stunning assist, but a huge positive from Saturday’s game at Ipswich was Lewis Miley’s return.
After missing the back end of 2023/24 and all of pre-season due to back and foot injuries, it was his first Premier League outing for a long time but he looked like he’d never been away in an impressive 15-minute cameo.
Cutting a mature figure on the pitch, Saturday was a reminder that the talented teenager is not just a gifted footballer but one with the ideal frame for a box-to-box midfielder.
Speaking to the media at his last press conference before Christmas, Eddie Howe spoke in depth about Miley’s return to action and his development; not just as a player but as a young man growing into his 6ft 3′ body.
The 18-year-old has put on a bit of muscle mass in recent months – a mix of hard work and his bodies natural development – and Howe believes he can progress even further:
“I think he’s (Miley) handling himself really well,” said Howe. “He’s training well behind the scenes. I think we’ve tried to be really careful with him and make sure there’s been no reoccurrence of his injury.
“For someone so young, with the physical demands he faced last year, we felt that this year we needed to manage and respect that, and make sure we gave him the best possible chance of staying fit and look after him at such an early stage of his career.
“But he’s looking good now. Physically, I’d say he’s looking stronger than last year. He’s worked hard in the gym, and his body is turning into a man’s body. I’m really pleased with his progress.”
“Physically, he’s definitely in a much better place than he was, and that’s just through the development of his muscles and his body as he gets into that transition phase from 17 to 18,” said Howe. “It’s a big age for any young man.
“Technically and tactically, I think he will naturally improve because of just becoming a bit wiser and streetwise about the game. But he’s still got the same qualities, I’ve seen that in training – his passing range, his calmness on the ball. His decision making, for such a young player, really sets him apart.
“I’d love to think he’ll be in a really good place. Of course, he’ll need games to find his rhythm, and that’s going to be difficult to guarantee him at the moment with the strength of our midfield. But he’s certainly going to play a part in the short term and long-term future for us, he’s such an important player.”
Injuries in the initial stages of their career have seen countless players fail to reach their potential, so the strength of the first team seeing minutes likely to be irregular for Miley may work in his favour long term.
He will remain around the first team though, with Howe previously confirming a loan deal in January is not going to happen.
It wasn’t just the physical stature of Miley that was credited by his manager, with Howe an admirer of the midfielder’s maturity as he blends in well with an established squad full of senior pros.
“I wouldn’t say they’re taking him under their wing,” Howe said. “I think Lewie himself is very mature for his age. I think he’s treated as an individual player now, like a proper player,” said Howe.
“No one has had to take him under their wing because of how he’s handled himself. He’s not needed that reassuring presence above him. He’s very individual, but very strong-willed.
“I think there’s a lot of respect there, internally, in our midfield. You look at the players, and the qualities of the six midfielders we have at the moment bring, there’s healthy competition.
“I think as much as they’ll look at Lewie and think, ‘We want to help and look after him’, they’ll also know that he’s snapping at their heels, wanting to take their place.”
Given how well he immediately adjusted to first team football, it’s little surprise to hear credit for Miley’s mental fortitude – a trait that hopefully sees him move on quickly from his time on the sidelines.