A former Newcastle United player has scored just two days after leaving his boyhood club.
Newcastle have been busy moving players on in the closing stage of the January transfer window, with Miguel Almiron’s departure perhaps overshadowing that of this fellow Mag. Lloyd Kelly’s loan-to-buy move to Juventus is imminent, while we may have to contend with a late bid for Kieran Trippier.
Our squad depth has been diminished in the last few days as the transfer deadline soon approaches, but the recent exit from the peripheries of our roster has already proven his value elsewhere.
Geordie off the mark at Hartlepool
Jamie Miley rescued his new side Hartlepool United with a late injury time equaliser in his National League debut to secure a much-needed point in Pools’ play-off push.
The 21-year-old’s exit from Newcastle was announced by the Club within five minutes of Almiron’s, after his loan spell at Newport County was cut short in order to find him a permanent move.
It was a short trip down the road for the older brother of Lewis to a Pools side struggling in their push for a return to the Football League and Jamie made an instant and crucial impact in County Durham.
The midfielder came off the bench for club legend Nicky Featherstone with half an hour to play all the way down in Essex as Braintree Town took the lead not long after his introduction. In the ninth minute of additional time a corner was headed to Miley who lurked in the six-yard box, who controlled and finished to secure his new side a point.
“It’s nice to make my debut, and to get the goal at the end is extra special for me on my debut,” said Miley after the match. “Good for me on a personal note, but I think we should have won the game comfortably in the end.”
The right move for the player
Hartlepool have been a reliable home for other professional young players to continue playing on a full-time basis and Miley has already rewarded season manager Lennie Lawrence for his faith.
The Monkey Hangers adopted Dan Dodds from Middlesbrough after their demotion from League Two and the right-back has proved his worth in blue-and-white. A familiar face in the squad for Toon fans will be former forward Adam Campbell, who has since moved back into more of a No. 10 type role.
Whether Hartlepool have enough to earn promotion this season is unclear in a tightly-contested National League that sees them three points and five positions from the play-off spots, but regardless Miley is at a good home to prove his worth and will no doubt return to the Football League himself should he stay fit.