Newcastle United latest news: Lewis Miley remains sidelined, and will miss today’s game against Everton, through injury.
Eddie Howe has admitted that Newcastle United will have to take extra care over Lewis Miley’s injury, revealing that he could have his season cut short if they do not get his recovery right.
Miley has been out of action since the end of January after suffering a dead leg against PSG at the Parc des Princes. Miley on that night played at right-back, a position he has been used in on a number of occasions by Howe following Tino Livramento’s hamstring injury.
It was presumed that Miley’s injury wouldn't keep him out for too long, however, over four weeks on and the teenager is yet to return to action. With such a gruelling schedule facing the Magpies over the next few weeks, having Miley back in the squad will be a huge boost for Howe.
Eddie Howe provides Lewis Miley injury update
Unfortunately, United’s head coach has revealed that they will be extra-cautious with his recovery and that Miley still faces a couple of weeks on the sidelines: “We've just been advised with Lewis to be really careful with this injury,” Howe said on Friday morning.
“It was a dead leg, so a knock. Usually with a knock of that type, it's maybe a couple of days and you're back, but there was a little bit of muscle disruption.
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“He's had a couple of injections. I think he's got one more to come. I think I've been saying a couple of weeks for a while, but I think we're looking at a couple of weeks with Lewis.
“I think if we don't get the management of this injury right, it could rule him out for the season. So I think we're being careful to hopefully get him back and in a good place.”
As mentioned, Miley’s injury came at a point in time where he was solidifying himself as a regular first-team option. Having burst onto the scene during their previous Champions League campaign because of a myriad of injury issues impacting Howe’s first-team, injury issues meant that Miley largely acted on the periphery of the first-team last season.
This year, though, has seen the 19-year-old enjoy a fine resurgence in his senior career on Tyneside, with his adaptability and versatility meaning that there is always a place in the team for him when fit.
So how has this latest setback affected Miley? This was Howe’s response when asked that question: “Typical Lewis. Not a massive amount of emotion, but that's a strength. He goes about his work in a really good way.
“I'm sure behind the scenes he's disappointed because he was in such a good place. He was playing really well at whatever position we asked him to play and he was integral to what we were doing.
“He also gave us a lot more choice and options to play different ways. So it's been a huge miss and we're desperately getting back, but we have to respect the injury timescale given.”
The current timescale on Miley’s return to action should see him back before the next international break.
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