Lewis Miley injury update - Eddie Howe reveals latest ahead of huge week for Newcastle

It’s been close to two months since Toon fans last saw Lewis Miley grace the pitch for Newcastle United.

Last playing for us in that 1-1 draw at PSG back in January, Miley’s absence has left us exposed in midfield and at right-back, where he would have been the perfect option to rotate with Sandro Tonali and Kieran Trippier over our hectic schedule in February and March.

With some huge games on the horizon in both the Premier League and the Champions League, and still many fixtures away from Bruno Guimaraes’ return from injury, Miley is needed sooner rather than later in the run-up to the end of the campaign.

Thankfully, there’s been a positive update on the teenager’s impending return, with the teenager on track to

Howe reveals Miley latest

Eddie Howe has revealed that there remains hope Lewis Miley will be available for selection for the trip to Barcelona next week in the Champions League.

Speaking to the media ahead of tonight's trip to Chelsea, Howe revealed that the Stanley-born midfielder is back running on the grass, refusing to rule out a comeback in Wednesday's trip to the Nou Camp.

"We were hoping he would be fit for that game (Barcelona away) and I don't know if that has deviated at all.

"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."

Derby-day return more likely?

As much as fans will be clamouring for Miley to return to the starting XI, particularly after the quietly good season he’s had when fit, all the right precautions need to be taken to avoid another serious injury.

We’ve seen it already with the likes of Tino Livramento and Bruno Guimaraes, but when we’ve rushed key players back, more injuries have followed.

So as much as it would be fantastic to see Miley grace the Nou Camp pitch in such a huge game for us, it may be a risk that Howe and the medical team won’t want to take.

Just days later is the perfect return opportunity however: the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Even without factoring in the results of the Chelsea and Barcelona games, we desperately need a win next Sunday, and if fit, Miley could play a big part in securing that win.