Lewis Miley, a Newcastle United teenager, has been sidelined with a back injury sustained while on England duty.
Eddie Howe believes Lewis Miley needs to be protected during his early years with Newcastle United.
The Newcastle United manager believes Miley’s back issue was simply a “warning sign” after a season in which he has sought to avoid overusing him. Still only 17, the Stanley player has appeared 30 times in all competitions, including the Premier League, reserve team, Carabao Cup, and FA Cup, accumulating almost 2,000 minutes in the process.
Miley might now be sidelined until the end of the season, however Newcastle is waiting for a specialist’s opinion before deciding on a timetable for the teenager. Unfortunately, Miley’s participation for England Under-20s against Poland last week appeared to be a step too far.
Howe told Chronicle Live: “Lewey has always been in a situation with me this year, and with the number of games he was playing, I was extremely concerned about his minutes. I was constantly attempting to protect him when I thought I could. I wouldn’t start him if I had another alternative because he’s so young and his physique is still developing.
“He is still growing, and his bones are still developing. When you look at him, you may forget about it because of his size, presence, and maturity. You forget how young he is; he definitely does not act like a 17-year-old. His body is not typical of a 17-year-old.”
Howe hopes that Miley’s injury will serve as a warning to England’s junior ranks, given he is one of the few players who has played so many top-flight games and is still slated to play for the Three Lions’ Under-20s.
The Newcastle manager stated, “So I believe this is a warning sign, not necessarily that I needed, but perhaps externally that we need to safeguard and watch after him. He is an incredible talent, and we can’t treat him like he’s 23 or 24.”
