Where Lewis Miley current sits at Newcastle United is quite the interesting question to ponder.
Our brightest academy prospect for years, he has shone for us when given the opportunity in both the Premier League and Champions League.
But a frustrating injury last year brought his momentum to a blistering halt. And the reintegration and excellent form of Sandro Tonali hasn’t helped his chance of breaking back into the starting XI.
So when talks of a loan move began to circulate, it looked like there was a chance he could be sent away for first team minutes. We look to have other ideas however…
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie is reporting that we have rejected an approach from Championship favourites Ipswich over a loan deal for Miley this summer.
The Tractors Boys are understood to be the only club that’s made an offer to us so far, but there is interest in signing the 19-year-old elsewhere.
Writing on X, Downie describes us as having big plans in mind for Miley in the upcoming campaign, even with there being no sign of the starting trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali changing any time soon.
“Newcastle want to keep the midfielder ahead of a busy Premier League & Champions League season, and manager Eddie Howe sees the teenager playing a key role.”
Assuming we at least win a couple of games in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, we can expect to play at least 50 games across all competitions.
It’s a packed schedule, which will be rather alien to a lot of our current squad, so rotation will be mandatory if Howe and the team want to compete as much as possible.
The Premier League and re-qualifying for next season’s Champions League will be the priority, so we can expect the big three in midfield to carry the workload there. This gives Miley three more competitions to cement his place as the future of this club.
With Jacob Ramsey having just signed, Miley faces tough competition to be ‘fourth’ choice midfielder, but at five years Ramsey’s junior, Miley can afford to share the minutes at this stage of his career whilst still playing against top level opponents in the Champions League and FA Cup.