Highly-rated Newcastle United midfielder takes positives from FA Youth Cup defeat against Arsenal

The young Magpies suffered a heartbreaking defeat at Gallowgate.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Newcastle United prospect Lewis Miley has described Tuesday night’s FA Youth Cup exit at the hands of Arsenal as ‘a great learning curve’.

The 16-year-old midfielder - who made first-team appearances in friendly wins over Al-Hilal and Rayo Vallecano last month - returned from featuring for England Under-17s over the last week to take his place in the Magpies side for the fourth round tie at St James Park.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But it was the Gunners that struck first when Seb Ferdinand scored from close range on the quarter-hour mark but Miley showed why there is so much excitement about his potential when he grabbed an equaliser with a powerful run and finish just four minutes later.

Graeme Carrick’s side were forced to find a second equaliser after the dangerous Amario Crozier-Duberry restored the visitors lead with a deflected shot just before half-time. With first-teamers Paul Dummett and Sean Longstaff watching on, the young Magpies hit back just before the hour-mark as Johnny Emerson’s stunning cross allowed Ben Parkinson to hammer home his ninth goal of the season.

However, it was Arsenal that would have the last laugh as they secured a fifth round trip to Watford with a late strike from substitute Osman Kamara. Miley described the last-gasp defeat as ‘disappointing’ but urged his team-mates to make the most of the experience of featuring in a high-profile cup tie at St James Park.

Lewis Miley (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Lewis Miley (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Lewis Miley (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

He told NewcastleWorld: “There were positives to take from the game. For myself, scoring a goal at St James Park was a great feeling. I thought we stuck with them in the game but they’ve scored in the last couple of minutes. Sticking with them all game was a real positive but it was disappointing to concede late.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Experiences like that, playing in front of supporters, it’s just a great feeling for us all. The game was a great learning curve for us but we now have to learn from it, get back to training and just move on.”

The Magpies youngsters are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they visit their Stoke City counterparts.

Related topics: