Newcastle United edged closer to a £30m deal for right-back Amar Dedic, but it was 17-year-old Mason Miley who stole the show in a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. Miley, from Stanley, earned a 9/10 rating after a commanding display in front of nearly 40,000 fans at St James' Park.
Miley's standout performance
Miley won all his tackles, blocked shots, and dominated ground duels throughout the afternoon. His composure belied his age, drawing praise from the backroom team. He was substituted late on with a knock, receiving a warm hug from head coach Jaissle, and Leverkusen scored moments after his exit.
Match action and ratings
Leverkusen took an early lead when Ibrahim Maza curled a shot past Lukas Hornicek from outside the box. Newcastle equalised before half-time through Malick Thiaw, who powered home a header from Anthony Elanga's corner. Thiaw earned an 8/10 for his defensive efforts, while Sven Botman and Lewis Hall both impressed with 7/10 ratings. Lewis Miley returned from a broken leg after 102 days, playing 45 minutes. Sean Steur and Anthony Elanga also contributed, with Elanga's corner setting up the equaliser. Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa had mixed afternoons, with Wissa setting up Nick Woltemade for a chance he should have converted.
Substitutes and context
Rory Finneran replaced Lewis Miley at half-time and impressed as an option in midfield. Miodrag Pivas and Sean Neave came on late, with substitutes needing 15 minutes to receive a rating. The match served as a useful workout ahead of the final pre-season game, with Newcastle's focus now shifting to their Premier League opener against Liverpool.
