Lewis Miley offers Newcastle United perfect chance of Elliot Anderson redemption
The stage is set for Lewis Miley to assume a leading role at Newcastle United.
Newcastle United 2.0 has started with a bang. Training ground announcements, game-changing signings and an impressive start to the Premier League campaign have breathed fresh life into the Saudi-backed project.
Amar Dedic, Nico Gonzalez and Matias Fernandez-Pardo headlined in a late £131million transfer spree as the Magpies finally gave Matthias Jaissle the tools for a successful season. But another who is set to play a central role in Newcastle’s next chapter did not cost a penny.
Lewis Miley has been an extra in the St James’ Park soap opera since breaking into the first-team ranks as a teenager three years ago. The Stanley native is now ready to become a leading protagonist.
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No longer in the shadows of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, this is the Stanley native’s time to shine. It was ironic that Miley outstaged the Italian last weekend.
Former Toon boss Alan Pardew made his feelings abundantly clear when asked to choose between the two. He said earlier this week: “You asked me if I'd rather have Tonali or Miley… Miley all day long. He's young, he's quick, and he's got great technique.
"He's got a great temperament and he is going to be around for the next 10 years. I think he is going to play for England. He was outstanding for a young player, so Newcastle might have done some really good business. It feels like they've moved Tonali on and are letting the young lad spread his wings."
It was a bold verdict - but Miley offered plenty of supporting evidence against Tottenham Hotspur. As the Toon boo boys jeered Tonali’s substitution on 74 minutes, they only had one winner in mind. Miley covered the most distance (12km), won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and perfected four out of five long passes.
His physical transformation is striking. Miley was propelled into the Newcastle setup as a 17-year-old due to his technical ability. Anyone who has stood next to his 6ft 3in frame will attest to him developing into a physical phenomenon.
Newcastle have been given a chance to redeem their costly Elliot Anderson mistake. Two years ago, a reluctant sale resulted in the midfielder leaving for a pittance to satisfy PSR pressures.
He has since developed into a star Premier League performer, represented England at the World Cup and joined Manchester City for £116million. The same blunder will not be made again.
Miley is ahead of Anderson at the same stage of their Newcastle careers. The latter left at 21 and, as painful as his progress has been, was always a bit-part player on Tyneside.
By contrast, Miley - at just 20 - already has the back catalogue of regular first-team experience. The stage is now set for him to assume the leading role.
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