At a glance
- Miley ruled out of Newcastle’s big week
- Potential return date set
- More strength for important run-in
Lewis Miley has been ruled out of Newcastle’s game against Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, as well as Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.
The 19-year-old suffered a dead leg at the beginning of February and has been sidelined since. Miley was named the North East Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year at the beginning of March.
Miley has played more games this season than any other under Howe. He’s made 19 Premier League appearances, including a goal in a 4-1 win over Everton in November.
Newcastle have been hit with a series of injuries since the beginning of the year. Miley is expected to be one of the last to return as Howe’s side looks to push towards the European spots.
Howe explains Miley’s issues
The Newcastle manager spoke to the press ahead of their clash at the Camp Nou, where he confirmed Miley wouldn’t be available for this big week for the club.
Howe told ChronicleLive, “Lewis isn’t with the squad, unfortunately. He’s trained at home today, so we’re probably looking at the other side of the international break for him.”
Newcastle will also be without their club captain, Bruno Guimaraes, against Barcelona. But he has travelled with the team to Catalonia to cheer them on against the La Liga giants.
These injuries leave Newcastle light in midfield, especially considering Sandro Tonali’s absence away at Chelsea on the weekend through illness. The former AC Milan man has also travelled to Spain and should be fit to play.
Although Miley has had a lot of his minutes from the bench, he has been a frequent option for Howe this season. His game time has come mostly in the Premier League.
| Lewis Miley (UCL 2025/26) | Stats |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 7 |
| Starts | 2 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Shots per game | 0.6 |
| Accurate passes per game | 88% |
| Tackles per game | 1.1 |
| Interceptions per game | 0.6 |
| Duels won per game | 50% |
In the Champions League, the same can be said about him being a reliable substitute option; he also started two games, in Newcastle’s 3-0 home win over Benfica, and their 1-1 draw away at PSG.
Newcastle chasing European spots
With Newcastle now out of the FA Cup, their season will only feature league games and Champions League matches if they can get past the La Liga leaders. Guimaraes and Miley’s return comes at the right time for the club, as, with the possibility of just one game a week, they have a near-full-strength squad.
The only other players injured are Emil Kraft and Fabian Schar. The latter is expected back next month.
Looking at Newcastle’s remaining Premier League fixtures, their toughest tests include the weekend game against Sunderland. There is also an away trip to the league leaders, Arsenal, at the end of April.
While the Magpies have struggled to get that edge in attack and to maintain a solid defence throughout much of the season, their last two league games against Manchester United and Chelsea showed that.
Supporters will agree that they face a huge test against Barcelona. But they will believe they can get the job done.
If they can and fail to pick up any other injuries, the club could certainly end the season in a strong manner. A place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs tonight and the chance for Howe’s men to write their name in the history books.
Miley’s eventual return strengthens the squad, and he adds something a little different to an already talented team. Howe will have another helpful option to get the best out of his team.
