Newcastle United injuries: Eddie Howe has provided an update on Lewis Miley’s return to fitness after six weeks out.
Lewis Miley will miss Newcastle United’s Premier League trip to Chelsea and is a doubt for the upcoming trip to Barcelona.
Eddie Howe has provided a further injury update on the 19-year-old, who is also a doubt for next weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland due to a thigh injury.
Miley suffered what was initially diagnosed as a dead leg during Newcastle’s 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in January and hasn’t been seen in action since.
The midfielder’s return to action has been delayed. He is yet to return to full training as he waits for the muscle in his thigh to heal fully.
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Lewis Miley injury update
Newcastle are being particularly cautious regarding Miley as they don’t want to aggravate his muscle injury further, which could lead to him being out for the remainder of the season.
Three weeks ago, Howe provided an injury update stating Miley would be ‘a couple of weeks maximum’ away from returning.
But that has not materialised in reality, with a return date still not fully clear despite Miley targeting the Barcelona second leg as a potential comeback date.
“We were hoping he would be fit for that [Barcelona] game and I don’t know if that has deviated at all,” Howe said. “He is not training with the group.
“He is on the grass now running again and working incredibly hard. But all the feedback I have had from the medical team is that we have to be careful with this injury and we don’t want it to turn into something a lot more serious.
“It has gone on longer than anyone had hoped but the main thing is he comes back fit.”
Lewis Miley targets NUFC injury return date
Speaking at the North East Football Writers’ Association awards at Ramside Hall, having been named as the Young Men’s Player of the Year, Miley broke his silence on his injury recovery.
“It’s getting there now,” he said. “I got a knock to my leg and it’s caused some muscle damage. It’s been very frustrating but hopefully I am back out there soon and doing what I love.
“I’ll hopefully be back before the international break and hopefully back for a couple of games before that. I am hoping for the Barcelona away game, it will be a very good game to be back for.
“I was in really good form when I was playing, it’s been frustrating with the time when it came – but I need to be positive, keep looking forward and look forward to the games when I’m back.”
Miley has been an important member of Newcastle’s squad this season as he has scored some important goals while also showing great versatility to bolster the midfield and defence when needed. The teenager played several matches at right-back in the absence of Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth before suffering his injury.
While it’s unclear if Miley will travel as part of the squad to Barcelona next week, one player who is set to make the journey is club captain Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian is due back in England on Monday before travelling over to Barcelona for the Champions League clash in a non-playing capacity.
Guimaraes is due back from a hamstring injury after the international break.