Eddie Howe may turn to 19-year-old Lewis Miley for Sunday's pivotal Premier League clash against Aston Villa, with captain Bruno Guimarães nursing an ankle injury. The match at St James' Park carries significant weight in the race for Champions League qualification, as Newcastle trail fourth-placed Liverpool by three points while Villa sit third, ten points ahead.
Guimarães sustained the injury during last Wednesday's 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven and, if sidelined, would leave a notable void. Howe's side have failed to win any of the ten league games the Brazilian has missed since joining four years ago. 'If we're without him we have to come up with a solution,' Howe said.
Miley, who has impressed in an unfamiliar right-back role recently, is the most likely candidate to step into midfield alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton in Howe's 4-3-3 formation. The teenager, described as a future England number six, offers composure on the ball and could help provide the control that Guimarães's dynamic style sometimes lacks.
Howe acknowledged the delicate balance of managing young talent while under pressure to win. 'With young players it's always a delicate balance... but Lewis has taken his opportunities this season and performed really well,' he said. After Miley captained the side against PSV, Guimarães predicted he would eventually become Newcastle captain. Howe praised Miley's unflappable temperament, calling him 'very relaxed, very calm, unfazed'.
Newcastle's inconsistent form means Howe is unsure which version of his team will appear against a potentially fatigued Villa side, who played a Europa League match in Istanbul on Thursday. Nevertheless, victory would strengthen belief that a top-four finish remains realistic, ahead of a crucial Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
