Eddie Howe 'determined' to keep Newcastle United star after controversial £35m agreement
Academy graduate Lewis Miley is tipped to have a big future at Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe is determined to keep Lewis Miley at Newcastle United after feeling the pain of Elliot Anderson’s exit.
To avoid breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), Newcastle sold Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35million in June last year.
As an academy graduate, Anderson’s sale counts as “pure profit” on the financial books.
The Whitley Bay-born midfielder’s value has now risen between £80m-£100m, with Manchester City reportedly eyeing a move. Anderson has starred at the City Ground and is set to start for England at next summer’s World Cup.
Eddie Howe ‘determined’ to keep Lewis Miley at Newcastle United
Miley is another talent to emerge from Newcastle’s academy and he earned rave reviews for his goal and assist in Saturday’s 4-1 victory away to Everton in the Premier League.
With Miley, United are determined to avoid a repeat of the Anderson scenario.
“I think there are definite parallels there between Lewy and Elliot, although they’ve had different journeys,” Howe told NewcastleWorld. “The Elliot situation I’ve commented on a lot, and probably shouldn’t comment on that anymore but I think from Lewy’s perspective, yeah I am determined to keep him here.
“I am determined for him to have the career at Newcastle that I think he can have and have the effect he can have long-term and become synonymous really with the football club for many years to come.
“That's my hope and my wish but of course Lewis will be the determining factor in that in terms of how much he wants to be here, how his career continues to develop, what he gives to his training and development etc.
“I think he showcased his skills really well on Saturday and what he's capable of doing. Confidence levels needed to execute that need to be very high and I think he delivered a really good performance and played really well with the players around him.”
Stiff competition in Newcastle United’s midfield
Competition in Newcastle’s midfield is high, with Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton regular starters, while there are £42m summer signing Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock to add to the mix.
Howe added: “I think it's a really good group of centre midfielders that we have at the football club for Lewis to be around at such a young age, for him to play with these players on a regular basis, train with them as he has now for a number of years, has only helped his development.
“I think now he's their equal, he's there on merit, he's fighting for a starting place. He's certainly impressing me in terms of how he's training, how he's preparing himself for every opportunity that he gets, and that was a big moment for him on Saturday.
“It's the type of moment that, for every player, he's looking to grab it, and I thought he did that in his own unique way, in the sense that he does that in a relaxed demeanour. But he wanted the ball, he was very good with the ball, that was key for us.
“He played with real calmness and control and set a goal up and scored a goal. Couldn't have gone any better, really.”
Lewis Miley’s game time at Newcastle United
Miley has only started five matches this season but Howe believes the 19-year-old has had “good minutes” this campaign, having also come on as a substitute nine times.
Howe said: “I think he's had good minutes this year. I think there's loads of different ways you could analyse those. You said five starts but I think if you look at the minutes and put all competitions together, I think he's had good football.
“I'm pleased with his development, I'm trusting him in big games because he's showing me in training that he deserves that trust and then of course there's always a huge responsibility, the biggest responsibility is on Lewis to keep performing.”