'A little diamond': Robbie Earle now compares 18-year-old Newcastle United star to Cesc Fabregas

In his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Eddie Howe was asked whether Lewis Miley had played his way into the starting XI.

While Eddie Howe didn't go as far as to say that Lewis Miley has done so, there was a solid recognition from the gaffer that he has done very well in the last few appearances.

For us, he should be getting picked ahead of Joe Willock in the absence of Joelinton as he's just more reliable. Yes, he doesn't have Willock's pace or determination to get forward, but what he does is read the game well and help the team retain possession.

At just 18 years old, there's still so much more to come from Miley, but he's got enough about him now to hold down a regular first-team place.

Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe discussed Miley on their NBC Podcast, The 2 Robbies, with Earle heaping praise on Miley. He even worked in a comparison to Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas.

"I'm going for a young man who's come through the Newcastle academy called Lewis Miley, who's a little diamond.

"I remember watching him in the Champions League, and this kid's ability to regulate a game, to take a touch, to always have a calmness.

"He looks classy. He's always got time, he's always got space which, as we know, is not easy.

"I was once in the company of Arsene Wenger and he was talking about players, and he said to me about Cesc Fabregas, and I said to him "what's the thing about Cesc Fabregas?" and he said "He makes right decisions than any player I've ever worked with" - and I get the sense that Lewis Miley is one of them."

To be compared to the likes of Fabregas at 18 is phenomenal, but it makes perfect sense. As the two Robbies agreed, he's not blessed with pace, but he doesn't need it.

The way Miley reads the game already and is able to anticipate the flow of the game and make a difference, the lad is going to be a huge star.

We understand Eddie Howe's desire to protect him and it could harm his development if he's starting week-in, week-out, but he definitely needs to start seeing more game time. He could be massive for us in the run in this season.