Lewis Miley should get extended Newcastle run after injury blow
Lewis Miley should be given the chance to become Newcastle's first-choice right-back as Tino Livramento is hit by injury woes once again.
Newcastle returned to winning ways over the weekend with a 2-1 victory on home turf against Hull City.
Matthias Jaissle was forced to start young midfielder Miley at right-back with Livramento and Amar Dedic both sidelined through injury.
The 20-year-old shone in the backline and was key to the win after struggling in midfield during their previous win against Leeds.
He deserves a long-term shot at being Newcastle's main right-back ahead of Livramento, who is injured more often than not, and Dedic, who is unproven in the Premier League.
Livramento has long been touted as one of the best young defenders in English football, but his latest issue has again forced him to pull out of the Three Lions squad after he also missed out on the World Cup through injury.
Lewis Miley deserves the chance to nail down Newcastle right-back position
Miley has never truly nailed down a place in the Newcastle starting eleven since his first team breakthrough in the 2023-24 campaign.
He has filled in at right-back during games in recent seasons, but was handed his first start there in this campaign against Hull on Saturday.
The 20-year-old was everywhere as he covered the most distance (12.1km) of any player on the pitch, had a 96 per cent pass accuracy (66/69) and created one chance from right-back.
He also made five line-breaking passes, with the best of those coming late on as Malick Thiaw was threaded behind the Hull backline but failed to deliver a decent cross.
Miley more than held his own against Hull's Sorba Thomas, winning four of his six attempted ground duels as well as making four tackles, four clearances and five recoveries.
When will Livramento and Dedic be back fit?
Miley should be given the chance to become Jaissle's go-to right-back, with his availability rarely being a problem compared to Livramento.
The Newcastle manager admitted that Livramento suffered "some discomfort" ahead of the Hull clash, and he has now been ruled out of the England squad for their four upcoming Nations League fixtures.
It looks as if the results of his MRI scan have been negative, with a lengthy layoff potentially on the horizon once again.
Summer signing Dedic's pulled hamstring ruled him out of the Hull clash, while he will also miss Bosnia's upcoming international fixtures, but he is expected to be fit to face Coventry on Monday, 12 October.