Newcastle's 'exceptional talent' came in for special praise from Jason Tindall in Friday's press conference

Jason Tindall filled in for Eddie Howe on Friday morning's pre-match press conference with the gaffer feeling under the weather.

It was the first time Tindall has been grilled by the press since Eddie Howe's first game in charge of the club when the manager was holed up in a hotel room with COVID.

The media took their opportunity to ask a few questions of the man himself, namely how he feels about the fan adoration he's received, the rule change that seemed to be brought in specifically to split him and Howe up on the touchline and how he's felt through this amazing journey.

Tindall was no doubt loving the spotlight this morning

He naturally thrived in the spotlight. I mean, it is Jason Tindall after all. He's been loving the journey and wants to help Newcastle win trophies, loves the fans' reactions to him as we've seen in the past when he has embraced the name "Mad Dog". He's even taking the rule change in his stride and boasted about not picking up a yellow card so far this season.

Reuters

When things got more serious, however, Tindall was able to cope with that too, and he was asked about Lewis Miley who signed a new long-term contract with the club this week after a phenomenal start to his career.

Tindall wasted no time lavishing the youngster with praise (via The Chronicle).

"Exceptional talent at 17 and brilliant what he has done this season. To come into this team and perform how he has is a great achievement for him. Every club wants to keep his best players and we're no different in that."

The hype is real but Miley is handling it brilliantly

Lewis Miley has been so good this season that he's often been the most talked-about player on the pitch by commentators and pundits when Newcastle have played.

There's a feeling that too much hype could eventually become Miley's downfall, but so far he's seemingly been able to block out the exterior noise and just focus on his football and long may that continue.

We've got a generational talent on our hands and the fact that he's Newcastle through and through gives us hope that we can keep hold of him for many years to come.