Newcastle United hand UEFA Champions League call-up to Chelsea record-breaker v AC Milan

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has called up Lewis Miley for tonight’s Champions League Group F opener against AC Milan.

The 17-year-old was named in the Magpies’ ‘B List’ last month which is for players born on or before January 1, 2002 and have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of at least two years or three years including a one-year loan spell.

Miley’s inclusion may not come as a surprise after the midfielder impressed in pre-season. It is, however, the first time he has been named in the matchday squad since last season’s final day draw at Chelsea.

“The experience, regardless of whether he gets onto the pitch or not, is really, really valuable,” Howe said. “That’s how you approach the experience.

“Just take it all in, see it all and it will really, really help him out I hope throughout his career and he can have fond memories and draw from the experience he’s going to come into contact with in the next couple of days.”

At 17 years and 141 days old, Miley would become Newcastle’s youngest-ever player in Europe should he get on the pitch in any of the club’s Champions League group stage matches.

The teenager is already United’s youngest ever Premier League debutant following his substitute appearance at Stamford Bridge in May.

Speaking about Miley’s development last season, Howe added: “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.”