Eddie Howe gives unsure update on Lewis Miley after youngster targeted Barcelona game for return from injury
Lewis Miley has been missing from the Newcastle United team sheets since he picked up a knock in the Champions League game against PSG in January.
The Magpies have been without their 19-year-old star since he picked up what is still only being described as a 'dead leg' on 28th January.
When it was revealed as a dead leg, everyone assumed that he'd miss one, maybe two games at most, but he's now missed Newcastle's last 12 matches.
In a recent interview, Miley revealed that he had the return leg against Barcelona in his mind as his comeback date, which is on Wednesday.
Eddie Howe says Lewis Miley still isn't training with the team
When asked if this was still the case during his press conference on Friday morning, Eddie Howe gave an answer that didn't exactly inspire confidence.
"We were hoping he would be fit for that game (Barcelona away) and I don't know if that has deviated at all. He is not training with the group. He is on the grass now running again and working incredibly hard.
"But all the feedback I have had from the medical team is that we have to be careful with this injury and we don't want it to turn into something a lot more serious.
"It has gone on longer than anyone had hoped but the main thing is he comes back fit."
Lewis Miley's dead leg must have had rigor mortis
It sounds like there is still a chance that Miley makes it into the squad for Wednesday, but the fact that he's still not training with the group suggests that he's still a way off from being 100%.
Also, the extent of the injury doesn't sound good, as Howe has reiterated many times that he has been told to be very careful when it comes to managing Miley's return. It was clearly much more than a dead leg, and there could have been some severe muscle damage.
As much as we want to see Miley back in the team, we would much rather ensure that he is 100% fit when he does make his return, as it could have a huge effect on his career if the club gets this wrong.
