'No harm' - Newcastle United star in line for first Premier League start of 24-25 after Eddie Howe hint

Newcastle United teenager Lewis Miley is pushing to make his first Premier League start of the season against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

The 18-year-old midfielder hasn’t started a league game for 12 months after his 2023-24 campaign was cut short due to a back injury. He then fractured his metatarsal in the off-season, forcing him to miss the opening three months of the current campaign,

After initially building his match fitness with the under-21s, Miley has gradually worked his way back into the first-team, starting recent FA Cup wins over Bromley and Birmingham City, as well as making a number of substitute appearances.

Miley came off the bench at half-time during last Saturday’s 4-0 defeat away at Manchester City. Despite the score-line, the midfielder impressed head coach Eddie Howe.

“Yeah, I think he's very much in and around that position at the moment,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference.

“I think his performance against Manchester City, as you say, was probably the one big positive to take from the game. There wasn't many. But he approached the game in the way that really we should have done from the start.

“He was brave in both phases. Aggressive off the ball, brave on the ball. Fearless in his approach and played his normal game, and I thought he played very strongly.”

Lewis Miley in contention to start versus Nottingham Forest

With Joelinton still sidelined with a knee issue and Sven Botman’s absence restricting Howe’s ability to effectively play with three centre-backs, a space has opened up in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

Joe Willock started there last weekend but was withdrawn for Miley at half-time. After his Man City cameo, Howe admits Miley has done his chances of starting against Forest no harm.

“At this moment, I think Lewis can be anything he wants to be,” added Howe. “The bar is that high for him. When I watch him in training, as of course we do every day, you see the level of player we have.

“The challenge for him, and I’ve said this many times, is that he has to break into a midfield of Sandro Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton when he’s fit, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff. It’s a really good group of players, and to get ahead of those starting players is not easy.

“But it will be a testament to his ability if he can, and how quickly he can. He’s certainly doing himself no harm by coming onto the pitch as he did against Manchester City, and having the strength to showcase his abilities in that kind of game.”