Newcastle United midfielder Lewis Miley will miss the beginning of the season after suffering a foot injury that could rule him out until the start of October.
The 18-year-old academy graduate, who had a breakthrough campaign in 2023-24, missed the final two months of last season with a back injury which he picked up on England Elite League Squad duty.
Miley is believed to have broken his metatarsal while running at Newcastle’s training ground in his bid to regain fitness for the upcoming 2024-25 season. He had been aiming to participate in pre-season training, scheduled to commence at the end of next week.
The midfielder is expected to undergo an operation next week and will miss up to 12 weeks.
Eddie Howe, the head coach, is already waiting to assess Joe Willock’s fitness, after the midfielder missed much of last season with a recurring Achilles problem. Sandro Tonali, meanwhile, remains suspended for Newcastle’s first two Premier League matches of the new campaign against Southampton and Bournemouth, with his 10-month ban ending on August 29.
With Elliot Anderson also sold to Nottingham Forest in a £35million ($44.6m) deal last weekend to ensure Newcastle complied with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), Howe will hope that Bruno Guimaraes returns from Copa America action with Brazil unscathed. Joelinton and Sean Longstaff are his other senior midfield options, while Joe White, the 21-year-old, was recalled from Crewe Alexandra of League Two in January.
Signing another midfielder has not been a priority in the market for Newcastle so far this summer, with a centre-back, right-winger and forward being targeted.
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