Newcastle United academy product Lewis Miley wore the captain’s armband in the closing stages of the Champions League win against PSV.

Kieran Trippier’s ‘spontaneous’ decision to place the Newcastle United captain’s armband on academy graduate Lewis Miley during Wednesday’s Champions League win against PSV Eindhoven was a great source of pride for everyone connected with the Magpies.

Most importantly, the young midfielder himself was quick to express his delight over captaining the club he grew up supporting during the closing stages of a high pressure game and Trippier’s call also provided Miley’s family with yet another emotional moment as they watched on from the St James Park stands. A chant of ‘He’s one of our own’ also rippled around the Magpies famous old home as soon as supporters realised the touching moment that had played out in front of them.

And for the Magpies academy staff, coaches and players, Miley’s progression into the senior setup, his international recognition with England Under-21s and his achievement of wearing the captain’s armband in a Champions League fixture at the age of just 19 will offer hope and inspiration that more players can embark on the same exciting journey over the coming years.

United Under-18s lead coach Chris Moore is currently playing an integral role in a key stage in the development of a number of Magpies prospects - and he admitted seeing Miley wearing the captain’s armband at St James Park had brought great pride and satisfaction to those working within the academy setup.

Speaking after the Magpies Under-18s suffered an FA Youth Cup defeat against Crystal Palace, Moore said: “Lewis has been brilliant and the academy is really proud of him. It’s our job to say how do we push the next people on. Lewis has gone now, he’s in the first team and it’s great watching him every week. Our job is to get as many players close to that level of football as we possibly can. When you see someone that’s been on your journey, it gives you that hope and inspiration that it can be done.”

Pathway

Moore and assistant coach James Marwood have both had experience of being a player coming through the Magpies academy system before they went on to earn moves into the professional game and are now tasked with aiding the next group of young hopefuls follow Miley into Howe’s first team squad. However, with standards rising within the senior ranks, there are real challenges facing youngsters across the Magpies academy setup and Moore admitted that will mean having to identify different ‘pathways’ to boost their individual development and increase their chances to progressing into the professional game.

He said: “We have players with real potential and talent. Our job is to help them and that’s in training, the games programme and finding the development pathway. So some players like Lewis go straight into the first team, others go out on loan, others have a couple of loans. Every journey to a first team environment is different. Our job as Under-18s staff is helping the lads do that. We have 20 lads we are trying to get into the Premier League or trying to become professional footballers and there are different routes. The 20 lads will have different journeys and our job is to help them all.”

What has Eddie Howe said about Lewis Miley?

Speaking in the aftermath of Wednesday’s win against PSV, the Magpies boss said: “I think he’s potentially a future captain of the football club, which for someone so young is a big statement to make really. It was a spontaneous moment from Kieran, to give him the armband. I wanted to protect Kieran and try to give him the best chance to stay fit. I thought it was the right time to withdraw him, and he’s given the captaincy to Lewie. It was actually quite a poignant moment, and a nice one for him and his family. I thought he was excellent again when he came on.”

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