Lewis Miley has received high praise after impressing in his first Premier League start of the season.

The 18-year-old grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck at 1-0 down and was instrumental in a dominant 11 minutes for the Magpies.

Miley bagged his second Premier League goal for the equaliser with a superb touch and finish, then showed his class on and off the ball with some composed passing and plenty physicality as his 6ft 4′ frame helped him win several duels. 

BBC commentator hails Miley

BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Pat Nevin was full of praise for Miley after his mature performance against Forest, backing our starboy to have a massive future.

Nevin hailed his ability to “glide with the ball” and feels he has the “world at his feet”, predicting the Geordie talent will be a full England international before long.

Nevin said: “I always look at young players, the end product is not there, it’s about how they look at the game and how others want them on the ball. That’s when you know they are a top player.

“The way Lewis Miley glides on the pitch, there are few that can do that. He is an international in waiting and has the world at his feet.”

Thomas Tuchel is yet to pick his first England squad after joining the Three Lions set-up, with Miley unlikely to make the cut just yet with a lack of minutes to his name this season – but the youngster has a long career ahead, and will hopefully make the step up in the coming seasons.

Lewis Hall is practically a shoe-in for a cap for the international affairs against Albania and Latvia next month, while Anthony Gordon also looks set for another call-up. For Tino Livramento and Nick Pope, it’s not so clear. 

What a moment for Lewis Miley! 😍 pic.twitter.com/CDJuqWNdUD

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 23, 2025

A classy and dominant display

A superb display against Forest saw Miley cut a composed and measured figure, yet also a tenacious one as he continuously won his aerial battles. The teen has come back as a more physical presence after returning from his metatarsal fracture suffered in October.

Joe Willock joined the superb Miley in a midfield three alongside Bruno Guimaraes with Sandro Tonali not considered fit to start, with Joelinton also out of the squad ahead of a prospective return against Brighton in the FA Cup next Sunday. 

Eddie Howe has heaped the praise on Miley, saying he can be “anything he wants to be,” and Sunday afternoon has shown why in a game that could have been oh so different without the young man in the middle.