EDDIE HOWE has hinted that he wants Lewis Miley to remain with Newcastle United’s first-team squad in the first half of next season rather than head away from Tyneside on loan.

Miley made his senior Magpies debut when he came off the bench in the second half of Sunday’s season-ending draw at Chelsea, and almost made an instant impact when he fired in a 20-yard strike that clipped the top of the crossbar.

The Stanley-born 17-year-old has been promoted to Newcastle’s first-team group in the last couple of months, and became the latest academy product to graduate to the senior ranks at the weekend.

He replaced Elliot Anderson when he came onto the field at Stamford Bridge, with the Scotland international having established himself as a regular first-team presence this season. However, unlike Miley, 20-year-old Anderson has had the experience of a loan spell away from Newcastle playing in League Two with Bristol Rovers.

It would be a surprise if lower-league clubs were not sniffing around Miley given his sudden elevation to the Premier League stage, but while Howe acknowledges the benefits of sending young players out on loan, he clearly feels Miley’s development would also be aided by regular training sessions with the rest of Newcastle’s first-team group in the first half of next season.

Howe said: “I think Elliot was probably a bit further on in his development because of the loan, but that’s what loans are for - the benefit of experience, playing games and building your robustness.

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“I was pleased with Elliot (against Chelsea), it was a tough, physical game for him so it’ll do wonders for him next year. Lewis, I’d say, is a bit behind that.

“He’s just turned 17, so I don’t want to place too much expectation on him, but he is someone we believe in. I certainly hope he is in and around training with us regularly next season.”

Miley had only been on the pitch for five minutes when Callum Wilson laid the ball into his path and he drilled in a strike that struck the crossbar. It would have been some moment for the youngster had his effort gone in, and having watched him at close quarters in training in the last few weeks, Howe was not surprised to see him go so close to claiming a winner.

The Magpies boss said: “Lewie is a really exciting talent. He should be pleased with how he did when he came on.

“It’s a tough environment to come into for your first Premier League game, but he could have nicked it. He’s a very good finisher, so it wouldn’t have surprised me to see that go in.”