Midfielder, Lewis Miley has signed his first professional contract with Newcastle United.
Miley who was born in Stanley, County Durham, first joined Newcastle aged seven years-old and has graduated through their youth ranks, which has seen him now excel at Under-21s level with two goals and five assists in his last eight Premier League 2 appearances.
First-team manager, Eddie Howe also handed Miley his senior debut in a mid-season friendly against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in December’s Diriyah Season Cup, which took place during the 2022 FIFA World Cup with many Premier League clubs opting to play friendlies during that period.
Howe also named Miley on the bench for Newcastle’s 1-1 away draw to Bournemouth in the Premier League in February, although the now 17 year-old wasn’t brought on as a substitute.
Speaking to nufc.co.uk about signing his first professional contract, Miley commented: “It’s a great feeling to sign my first professional contract, especially with my boyhood club. It’s something I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid.”
“I’ve been at the Academy for a long time so to get to this point now is great and hopefully I can keep pushing on further in the future.”
Miley added that he believes that this contract is “a reward” for his performances this season” but iterated that he wants to keep doing everything he can to “always try to improve.”
Reflective of his progress across the campaign, Miley admitted that featuring in the senior team in the mid-season friendly was “an unbelievable feeling” for him.
Miley added that he is pleased with how he has adapted to the U21s this season, as he continued: “I think I’ve really kicked on with the under-21s this season. It’s been great with my development over the course of the season and hopefully I can continue to improve.”
Miley also plays alongside his older brother, Jamie in the U21s who scored his first goal of the Premier League 2 season in a 4-1 win over Derby, courtesy of his assist which the younger brother described as “a great feeling” but hopes that they can create “more moments like that” in the future.
Miley is amongst several North-East youngsters within Newcastle’s Academy looking to emulate players like Sean Longstaff and Elliott Anderson, who have cemented first-team places after graduating from the youth ranks in recent seasons.
The 17 year-old though is proud of his first-team experience away in Bournemouth, as he said: “Being on the bench for the game against Bournemouth was a great experience.
“Being around the first-team, travelling down with them for the game, was really enjoyable and I saw what goes on in the dressing room. The support from the away fans that day, too, was amazing.”
Miley added that having seen Longstaff and Anderson plus other Academy graduates secure first-team spots only “really inspires” him to follow in their footsteps, which in turn “… really drives me on to try and follow in similar footsteps.”
On the international stage, Miley is part of England’s Under-17s squad who will feature in this month’s UEFA U17s Euro in Hungary, with the Young Lions placed in Group D with Croatia, Netherlands and Switzerland.
Miley therefore is keen to be part of the England squad at the tournament, but admitted that his international call-ups allow him to explore alternative club cultures as he added: “I’ve played with other players from different clubs, getting to know what they do at their clubs.”
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