Saturday marked another disappointing day for Newcastle United on the road as they suffered a defeat at the hands of Luton, extending their poor away form under Eddie Howe. The only away win in the Premier League this season, and losing to a team battling relegation like Luton, stands out as one of the more disheartening outcomes during Howe’s tenure.
The defeat could have been more comprehensive, and Luton thoroughly deserved their victory. For young Lewis Miley, it was a stark contrast to the previous week when he celebrated scoring his first professional goal against Fulham. However, this time around, the teenager was substituted in the first half.
Eddie Howe clarified the reasoning behind Miley’s early substitution after the game, emphasizing that it was a tactical decision rather than a reflection of the player’s performance. Howe expressed the intention to manage Miley’s playing time, stating, “Controlling his minutes is something I have wanted to do anyway. It was not based on his performance. I know it was based on a tactical decision. He should have no problems. He is so young, we want to control his football as well.”
When asked about discussing the situation with Miley, Howe affirmed, “Yeah, I am going to sit down and talk to him of course. It was not something I planned to do. It was something instinctive because we weren’t good in the game and we needed to make a change. But there will be no problems with him; he will totally understand.”
While it’s reassuring to know that Miley’s substitution wasn’t linked to his performance, being taken off early is likely to impact his confidence negatively. Nevertheless, given Miley’s rapid adaptation to top-level football, showcased in both the Premier League and the Champions League, he appears equipped to overcome this setback in the long run.
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