Howe vows to ‘protect’ Miley after critics target teenager

Eddie Howe says Newcastle United will do all they can to “protect” Lewis Miley after the teenager received “totally unjustified” criticism on social media.

Miley chose to limit replies to a post he made on X to mark his 50th first-team game for Newcastle against Bournemouth on Sunday. It is understood this was a precaution as he is still young.

The 19-year-old came under fire from a minority of social media users, who questioned the midfielder’s first-team credentials during the goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium, and Howe said it was “totally unjustified”.

Howe knows such comments can affect players if they “absorb it”, but the Newcastle head coach stressed Miley was “strong mentally”.

“Lewie is an outstanding player and a player we need to support and protect”, he said. “Sometimes, when you look at him, you forget how young he is because of his stature and maturity both on and off the pitch.

Miley, who made his first Premier League start since February, praised Newcastle’s” amazing “travelling support in his post on Sunday and wrote that he was” very proud “to have hit the milestone for his boyhood club.

The teenager has since received hundreds of messages of support from fans while captain Bruno Guimaraes wrote that his team-mate was a” top player and guy”.

Howe recalled he was briefly on social media years ago, but the Newcastle head coach said he” cut it off because he didn’t like what he read – even though they were probably right”.

However, Howe suggested his players were unlikely to follow suit if he advised them to do so.

” I don’t think I have the right to do that, “he said”. I would advise them, probably. If it helps you, do whatever you need to do but if it doesn’t, come away from it. It’s all about how you absorb the things you are reading.