Eddie Howe reveals Lewis Miley plan he’s ‘always’ thought about at Newcastle and it explains a lot
Eddie Howe’s decision to play Lewis Miley at right-back for Newcastle United did not come out of desperation, it seems.
During Tuesday’s Champions League defeat at Marseille, Newcastle fans were surprised that Miley played as a right-back.
At the time, it spoke to a desperation. Sandro Tonali has also played there this season, also when Newcastle were chasing a game in which they’d thrown the lead away.
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With Tino Livramento needing his minutes managed and both Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth injured for Newcastle right now, Howe has a worrying lack of options.
Jacob Murphy was deployed as a right-wing back from the start against Marseille and Miley duly replaced him.
It was something of a surprise at the time but the Newcastle United manager has now further explained his thought process.
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Eddie Howe thinks Lewis Miley could be a right-back for Newcastle United
Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Everton, Howe was asked about Miley.
He admitted that he had, in fact, always considered deploying the talented teenager in that role.
“I have always had my eye on Lewis potentially being able to play that role,’” he said. “He can play the role easily from a technical viewpoint and from an attacking viewpoint. He is a very good crosser of the ball.
“It was the defending aspect, always, when you are playing a new position, but he actually dealt with that really well and his positioning was excellent.
“I think he is just an intelligent footballer with a very good brain and he played some wonderful passes on the pitch from that position. He certainly helped us in the latter stages so it could be something I look at again.”
Do you agree with the Geordie Boot Boys writer predictions for Everton vs Newcastle? Let us know your thoughts!
James Rutherford: “I am backing the Magpies to win against Everton. I was optimistic going into the Manchester City game last week, and I am going to stick with that despite the Champions League defeat to Marseille.” 👀
Jakob Barnes: “Newcastle fans would probably take a boring but efficient win here and the Magpies should have enough to shut out the flailing Everton forwards.” 🫰
Jonathan Gorrie: “It’s hard to have any confidence in this team away from home. At some point, they have to click, but Everton away has all the makings of another dismal defeat. Anyway, who’s looking forward to the game?! 🤣”
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Lewis Miley’s new role at Newcastle United now set to be stress tested
Trippier’s hamstring injury at Newcastle, coupled with Krafth’s absence, will likely mean the Newcastle academy graduate will have to operate at full-back reasonably soon.
Livramento, as good as he is, just cannot play in every single game during Newcastle’s relentless fixture schedule across the next few games.
As such, Miley could have to come into the fold there. To his credit, he performed reasonably well against Marseille but actually starting a Premier League there is very different indeed.
The fact that Howe has always thought about this is interesting. Miley is certainly an impressive talent and having another string to his bow cannot be a bad thing.
Howe has previously tinkered with positions at Newcastle, most notably when turning Joelinton from a misfiring striker into a brilliant central midfielder.
With that in mind, perhaps Newcastle fans should trust his thought process here.
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