Newcastle’s academy is finally rebuilding after years of neglect under the Mike Ashley era.
Since new owners arrived and Eddie Howe took the job, we’ve seen a number of academy products train with the first team and make their competitive debuts.
A pathway now exists to help top prospects move up to first team contention and a recently released Newcastle striker has been talking about some of our biggest talents in a recent podcast appearance.
From his time spent in the Under-18s, Under-21s and a brief spell with the first team, Michael Ndiweni has brushed shoulders with several top prospects on Tyneside over the past few years.
The former Toon striker has singled out a number of players when discussing his time on Tyneside, but his comments on current Mag Lewis Miley caught the eye, explaining why he feels Newcastle have a “future England player” in their ranks.
When asked about Miley’s potential and what it was like to play alongside the 18-year-old in training, he praised the Geordie’s athleticism, ball-carrying, passing range and ability to always make the “right decisions”.
“I think he’s one of the best young talents in the Premier League, and he’s a future England player,” Ndiweni said on the [SDS podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtkkhNMAnjQ&t=105s&ab_channel=SDS).
“I’ve played with his brother, he (Lewis) is two years younger, he’s so athletic for someone who’s 18. He can move the ball quick, he can carry the ball, his passing, everything, just makes the right decisions.”
“You know that type of player? You give him the ball, he makes the right decision, keeps things ticking.”
Soon after praising Miley, Ndiweni picked out a few others Under-21 talents, past and present, who stood out to him during his time at the club.
He picked out former Mag Elliot Anderson for praise, along with midfield talent Joe White – currently on loan at MK Dons – along with tricky winger Trevan Sanusi and Aussie forward Garang Kuol.
Geordie forward Sean Neave also got a mention, with the 17-year-old recently called up to Eddie Howe’s first team squads after training with the senior team.
“When I first joined at Under-18, Elliot Anderson, he’s now one of the midfielders of the season. Joe White is on loan in League Two, Trevan Sanusi, he’s he got bought from Birmingham, he’s there now, he’s killing it.”
“Garang Kuol, the Australian, he played in the World Cup, he’s killing it at the moment. Sean Neave, the youngster who was on the bench in the Carabao Cup, there’s a few youngsters who are killing it at the moment.”