Chelsea record-breaker pictured at Newcastle United training ground in major hint over future

Teenager midfielder Lewis Miley is set to remain a part of Newcastle United’s first team after linking up with the squad on the first day of pre-season.

All senior players, excluding those who were on international duty last month, returned to the club’s Benton training centre on Sunday morning as they prepare for the new Premier League season.

Among the players pictured was 17-year-old Miley, who became the Magpies’ youngest-ever Premier League player when he featured as a substitute at Chelsea on the final of last season.

As well as featuring in mid-season friendlies against Al Hilal and Rayo Vallecano in December and appearing in the matchday squad, Miley, a England youth international, has regularly trained with Eddie Howe’s squad.

Indeed, another call-up to Newcastle training suggests Miley has a role to play across the club’s seven pre-season friendlies and possibly even the competitive season.

United are competing in four competitions this campaign - the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup - which will stretch Howe’s relatively thin squad.

Speaking about Miley’s development last season, Howe said: “Lewy’s a real talent. Now he’s been training with the team, I wouldn’t necessarily say consistently all season, but (for) the majority, I’d say he’s been with us.

“The biggest compliment I can give him is that he hasn’t looked out of place. He’s looked like part of the group. For someone so young, technically, to survive within the group is no mean feat.

“Some of the drills we do are very difficult. He’s survived in those drills, and that’s a big thing. So I would have no question marks about putting him in. Whether he’s ready or not, that will come down to how he performs.”

Howe added: “He’s just turned 17, so I don’t want to place too much expectation on him, but he is someone we believe in. I certainly hope he is in and around training with us regularly next season.”