Trippier praises Miley’s 'big presence' ahead of Tonali reunion at Tottenham
Kieran Trippier praised Lewis Miley’s "big presence" as Newcastle prepare to meet Sandro Tonali at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (17:30 BST), with the 20-year-old likely to keep his place in the starting lineup.
Miley, who became the youngest player in Champions League history to set up a goal for an English club with an assist against AC Milan in 2023, signed a new long-term contract with Newcastle on 25 May — the same day Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi contacted Tonali. That summer also saw Newcastle recruit three midfielders to replace Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, who left for Spurs and Arsenal respectively.
Manager Matthias Jaissle, who described himself as a "big fan" of the academy graduate, did not hesitate to start Miley against Liverpool on the opening weekend despite the midfielder having played only 45 minutes of pre-season after a spell out with a broken leg. Newcastle have also added Nico Gonzalez from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £52m, a signing the club expect to complement Miley rather than displace him.
Former team-mate Kieran Trippier labelled Miley "very humble" and "more than capable" of stepping into a larger midfield role, saying: "You can see the development from when he first started training with the first team to where he is now. He's become a big presence and his ability for his age is immense. He can go as far as he wants to - I believe in him that much. But the most important thing is that he's grounded and always wants to learn. That will stand him in really good stead."
During Eddie Howe's final season in charge, Miley was trusted to cover at right-back when Tino Livramento suffered a series of niggling injuries, a move that led him to play the most minutes (1,403) of any English teenager in the Premier League last season before turning 20 in May. Among players aged 19 and under in the top flight at that time, from all nations, Miley finished first for assists (four), successful passes (738), successful passes in the final third (188) and line-breaking passes (164).
Miley's defensive metrics from that period were notable as well: he was first among teenagers for interceptions (20), second for possession won (69) and third for successful duels (84). He has since returned to a midfield role and produced an assured all-round display in Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Liverpool last week.
Jaissle warned against overburdening the youngster while expressing pride in his progress, saying: "Not to put too much pressure on him but, honestly, coming back from a long injury with a really short pre-season and showing that in the first match is something special. I'm just proud to be a part of his development now because, hopefully, we have a player with a really bright future." The coach marked Miley's return with a bear hug and has suggested the midfielder could assume more responsibility following departures that left a "vacuum", noting Miley's younger brother Mason is also on the club's books.
Trippier recalled giving the boyhood Newcastle fan the captain's armband against PSV in the Champions League last season and defended the decision: "He deserved that moment, to captain his club in the Champions League at the age he was. It must have been an amazing feeling for him and I couldn't have been happier for him. He's definitely got the qualities to step up and become a leader in his own way."
Newcastle travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (17:30 BST) to face Tonali, with Miley expected to start and the newly signed Nico Gonzalez available to operate alongside him in midfield.
