Newcastle United’s midfield is undergoing major change this summer, with Sandro Tonali already gone and the club preparing to give younger players greater responsibility.
The midfield transition, however, received some positive news mid-July after Lewis Miley was pictured running on the grass at Newcastle’s training center at the start of the Magpies’ preseason, two months after undergoing surgery on a fractured fibula, per Chronicle Live.
The 20-year-old suffered the injury during a training-ground
incident before the final three matches of last season.
“No one around him, there was no other player involved. He slipped and went down,” Eddie Howe said at the time.
Howe initially hoped Miley would recover in time to take part in preseason, and the latest images suggest the midfielder remains on schedule.
“We hope that he’ll be back in and around it for pre-season,” Howe said after the injury. “Knowing the strength of character, he’ll be back and he’ll be back better than ever.”
Miley has already made 80 senior appearances for Newcastle and is expected to take on a more prominent role following Tonali’s £100 million move to Tottenham.
The club reinforced its faith in the academy graduate by handing him a new six-year contract in May. Miley previously said he was working daily to return stronger and repay the club’s confidence.
Although Newcastle has not confirmed an exact return date for Miley, his presence and running at the start of camp represent a significant step toward featuring during preseason and competing for a starting midfield role come the start of the new season.
