Newcastle's 'special' solution could save millions as Chelsea and PSG know only too well

Lewis Miley is a 'special' player who can make it 'to the top' after breaking through at Newcastle United.

That is the view of former Newcastle team-mate Michael Ndiweni, who came through the ranks with Miley, as the midfielder steps up his recovery from a foot injury. Miley suffered a broken metatarsal earlier this summer, but Eddie Howe previously revealed that the 18-year-old is making 'good progress' with his rehab.

Paul Mitchell will certainly have had Miley in mind when the Newcastle sporting director spoke following a bruising transfer window about how it would be 'great to recruit loads of players, but internally we have inherited a lot of quality back'. That was, of course, a reference to those individuals who have already returned to action, like Sandro Tonali, but, also, those players who are due back in the coming weeks and months like Miley and defender Sven Botman.

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After all, it is easy to forget that Miley has not featured since March. The England under-20 international missed the final months of last season with a back issue before suffering the aforementioned foot injury back in July.

Miley was ruled out for up to 12 weeks and Ndiweni has no doubt that the academy graduate will play his part when he eventually returns to action.

"He's terrific," Ndiweni told ChronicleLive. "Even against Chelsea and PSG, those were two top performances against huge clubs.

"I've known him for five years and to see his development and see him play against top players put into perspective how good a player he is and how much he has improved. He's such a special player and I believe he can make it to the top. He's got such a mature head and the way he plays for such a young player, the only way is up for him.

"He's got very good technical ability. When you add maturity and calmness on the ball, that's what you see in the top-level number sixes. They all play with a certain calmness and he's got that. He knows the right pass, when to pass it, when to receive it and when to ask for the ball."

Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff were the only midfielders to make more appearances than Miley for injury-ravaged Newcastle last season. Eddie Howe hailed Newcastle's youngest ever Premier League debutant and goal scorer as an 'exceptional talent' who has all the attributes to be a 'huge part' of the club's journey after he signed a new long-term deal earlier this year.