Newcastle wonderkid's instant response to 'ruthless'…

Newcastle wonderkid's instant response to 'ruthless' demand with future role kept open

Lewis Miley was urged to show a 'ruthless edge' before proving to be the match-winner for Newcastle United under-21s' first league victory since October. The 16-year-old has enjoyed a stunning rise through the academy ranks this season, and helped the young Magpies seal a 4-3 win over Norwich City on Monday with a fine late strike.

Miley is one of several academy stars to train with Eddie Howe's first-team squad this season, and made his St James' Park debut in the mid-season friendly victory over Rayo Vallecano. The teenager was one of the standout performers against the Canaries, and emphatically dispatched Amadou Diallo's cutback with a first-time strike to edge the seven-goal thriller.

Miley has also earned international recognition with England this term, representing the Three Lions at under-17 level. Newcastle under-21s boss Ben Dawson praised the teenager's latest display, and revealed he even called upon the attacking midfielder to be more 'clinical' at half-time after failing to capitalise on chances before the break.

Dawson said: "I think for Lewi, it's one of the things we've been on to him about. I know England has been on to him about it as well.

"Even at half-time, when we were coming out for the second-half, I was saying ‘You’ve got to be clinical, show that ruthless edge at the top level’. He’s a great kid, he’s a sponge, and he takes everything on board, so it’s no coincidence that you speak to him and he responds in that type of fashion."

Miley's breakthrough with the second string came in a left-wing role, and the teenager immediately delivered with three goals in his first four starts. The versatile teenager has since settled into a central midfield role, but Dawson insists the club are in no rush to tie the rising star down to a single position just yet.

The Magpies U21s boss said: "I think we have to remember he's only 16-years-old, and at the minute we don't want to pigeonhole him to one position. I know previously he's played off the left, he's played as a left eight but we needed him to work on receiving it on his right-hand side.

"He's played in that position a little bit more for us, and he's played that position for England which has helped that work. I think any of those attacking midfield roles...it's good at his age that he's still got that flexibility.

"You can drop him in at left eight, right eight, drop him in as the pivot. So there’s nothing long-term in terms of fixing position, but just giving him what he needs to get his development going in the right direction."

Newcastle wonderkid's instant response to 'ruthless' demand with future role kept open

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