Newcastle United misplaced in opposition to Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League on January 13. Nonetheless, whereas the loss has been laborious to swallow, Newcastle put up loads of combat regardless of fielding a really weakened squad.
It’s as a result of the staff was devoid of many first-team starters as a consequence of accidents. This implies they needed to begin a 17-year-old in midfield in opposition to the defending champions. This was a dream come true for Lewis Miley, who has damaged information since making his debut for the Magpies.
Miley is the product of Newcastle Youth Academy, the place he has been for ten years since he joined at seven. He has already debuted within the Premier League and Champions League and scored them in, too, to change into the youngest goalscorer for the membership within the league.
Nonetheless, going through Metropolis is likely to be the largest problem he confronted in his brief skilled soccer profession, And whereas Miley fared poorly, he nonetheless will be happy with the speedy strides he has made in his profession.
So, who’s Lewis Miley, and the way good is he?
Who’s Lewis Miley
Lewis Miley was born on Could 1, 2006, in Durham, England. From a younger age, Miley’s curiosity in soccer bought a stamp of approval when he was accepted into Newcastle United’s youth academy at seven.
Miley first got here into discover when he debuted for the youth squad within the under-18 Premier League initially of the 2021-22 season. A month later, he would rating his first aim and supply his first help in the identical sport in opposition to Derby County. He ended the season with two targets and two assists.
Miley was, nonetheless, making speedy strides, and the coaches on the membership seen this. So, within the 2022-23 season, Miley represented the under-18s and under-21s within the Premier League 2. {The teenager} was at his finest in Premier League 2, scoring two targets and offering 5 assists in simply eight video games.
These performances have been rewarded with a call-up to the senior staff, the place he made his debut on April 4, 2023.
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Lewis Miley stats
Together with his debut accomplished on the finish of the 2022-23 season, huge issues have been anticipated from Miley within the present season. And the playmaker has not upset. Milley has racked up 660 minutes this season with an help and a aim to his identify within the league.
His maiden aim got here in opposition to Fulham. Eddie Howe additionally gave the midfielder sport time within the Champions League, the place he offered an help to Joelinton. For a participant who has performed sparsely this season, Miley has sensible assists.
{The teenager} has created six possibilities and accomplished 5 profitable dribbles, successful 24 duels. Knowledge from fbref reveals that he initiated 1.92 blocks per 90 minutes this season, which put him within the high 4 percentile of midfielders. He additionally ranks among the many high ten percentile in the case of passes blocked.
Newcastle’s Lewis Miley has bought an help from the primary go he has made contained in the opposition’s penalty space in his Premier League profession #NEWCHE pic.twitter.com/5vZHlvC4am
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 25, 2023
Lewis Miley model of play
Lewis Miley will be finest described as a roaming playmaker. His heatmap is, at finest, sporadic due to the couple of minutes he has performed this season. Nonetheless, Miley’s brilliance is when he’s with out the ball. His clever motion helps in opening gaps within the opposition’s defence.
Miley has additionally labored properly in partnership with right-back Kieran Trippier, serving to create overloads on the precise wing to overwhelm the opposition. On this occasion, he drags a participant out of place, permitting Trippier to swing in a cross. Whereas Trippier is doing this, Miley drifts contained in the field to extend the variety of choices for his teammates.
Fbref information reveals he has 3.52 touches within the penalty space among the many high three percentile of midfielders. Miley has additionally learnt lots enjoying with Bruno Guimaraes. For the reason that Brazilian is a formidable quantity six, he permits his different two midfield companions to roam ahead.
His outing in opposition to Metropolis was removed from his finest, as he solely had a 67 per cent passing accuracy. Nonetheless, even then, he managed to create one likelihood, which reveals that his huge expertise must be nurtured to change into a future Newcastle star.
Lewis Miley potential
If a participant at 17 is enjoying for a Champions League facet’s midfield, then it doesn’t take a genius to determine that Lewis Miley is a prodigy. Furthermore, Newcastle are a staff whose method to the sport after their possession change has been distinctive.
Whereas Newcastle have splurged cash on signing high quality gamers, they’ve additionally given gamers from the earlier ownerships, like Sean Longstaff and Joelionton, an opportunity within the staff. Based mostly on this proof, Miley is prone to change into an integral a part of the Magpies setup.
For now, although, Miley wants to make sure that he finishes this season on a excessive so he can get a full pre-season with the senior squad, which would be the first vital step in his senior profession. The indicators until now are promising, although, and Durham’s legacy of manufacturing world-class footballers has discovered a brand new lease of life.
