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The north-east of England has a rich history of producing future England internationals. Some of football's greatest and most accomplished stars across several decades and throughout different eras, have begun life on Newcastle United's doorstep.
The Toon Army have missed out on plenty, allowing the likes of Alan Shearer, Bobby and Jack Charlton, Peter Beardsley, Michael Carrick and, among the present company, Dan Burn, to slip through the net - some of whom only initially, but others entirely.
Lewis Miley a 'big miss' for Newcastle, according to Eddie Howe
Lewis Miley has a long, long way to go before he is spoken about in the same breath as the aforementioned names, but the 19-year-old midfielder has time on his side and, compared to many of his peers in the England Under-21 setup, vast experience and exposure to date.
Miley is a hard-working central midfielder with a tall, slender frame and impressive natural stamina.
More recently, he has demonstrated surprising versatility, deputising at right-back for Newcastle, largely out of necessity.
Since his secondment began during the first half of the 2025/26 season, it can be argued that no Newcastle player has been more consistent, which is some feat given the names the teenager shares the field alongside.
The Toon teenager is a goal threat, becoming Newcastle's youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer in the 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen earlier this season, and fares particularly well in the air, despite still resembling a schoolboy yet to fill out.
Miley also recently became the youngest-ever player to make 50 Premier League appearances for his boyhood club and months before turning 18, became the youngest-ever Newcastle player to assist a Premier League goal, expertly setting Alexander Isak up versus Chelsea.
Slowly but surely, he is passing milestone after milestone with little fanfare, in the way so many promised but could not sustain.
FourFourTwo's long-running 'The Boy's A Bit Special' feature has been going since the magazine's first issue, highlighting the best young players in the United Kingdom and abroad.
As of September 2025, we've given it a revamp. Our youth football expert Joe Donnohue will be profiling four teenagers each month, explaining why they're, well, a bit special.
Miley's breakthrough has been gradual and phased ever since debuting in May 2023, less than a month after his 17th birthday. Each year he has developed, impressing with his security in possession and ability to handle progressively trickier opponents for lengthier durations.
He is no longer a fringe player with ability whose potential is yet to be realised, but a fully paid-up member of the first-team squad and most importantly, trusted by head coach Eddie Howe.
DID YOU KNOW: Miley has a tattoo depicting his Newcastle debut on his left forearm
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