It has been 216 days since Lewis Miley last featured in a competitive fixture for Newcastle United, with the 18-year-old midfielder breaking his metatarsal on the eve of returning from a back injury sustained whilst on international duty with England Under-20s in March.
The Stanley-born youngster, who grasped his opportunity at first-team level with both hands last season following a catalogue of injuries within United's first-team squad, is nearing his return to playing action after what has proved a lengthy, difficult period on the sidelines, his first significant stint away from the football pitch during the fledgling stages of a promising career.
The 18-year-old, approaching one year since making his full Premier League debut for his boyhood club against AFC Bournemouth, told newcastleunited.com: "It's been a really tough period for me, returning from a back injury to then break my metatarsal. It's been difficult but I'm coming towards the end of it and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel so I'm really looking forward to being back with the lads and being on the pitch again.
"It was a freak accident (to my metatarsal). I was a week away from being back with the team for pre-season and, as I was training with one of the fitness coaches, I turned direction and felt something straightaway. It was quite painful so I knew I'd have to get it operated on, which was really tough, but I just had to try and bounce back from that."
How did it feel having to go through the rehabilitation process for a second time in quick succession?
"Having to go through that all over again was really challenging as you already know what it is like and what you need to do to be where you want to be. Once you're back on the pitch, it feels like a fresh start and you have a clear head.
"It's a great feeling being back on the grass, especially training next to the lads and hearing their voices again. When you could see them outside when you're getting treatment indoors, you're itching to be out there but you've just got to deal with that and be patient until you get your chance to be back out there."
Miley, who became the club's youngest Premier League debutant after featuring in United's final fixture of the 2022/23 season away at Chelsea, was forced to remain on home soil as Eddie Howe's side jetted out to Germany and Japan for pre-season trips to adidas' global headquarters in Herzogenaurach and Tokyo respectively last summer.
After a positive pre-season campaign in the United States a year prior, making a first senior start for his boyhood club against Chelsea at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Miley expressed his frustration in missing out on travelling with the first-team squad for preparations ahead of the current campaign.
"Missing the pre-season trips was difficult as the bonds you create with the team, being away for over a week or so, is really good," he added.
"All the lads are really positive with the younger players and it's a great group to be around so I think I missed out on that a lot but, hopefully, I'll be able to do that for the next pre-season.
"It's hard when you're watching game after game in the stands but I know I'm not far away now and, hopefully, I'll be back on the pitch very soon."
Miley claimed a number of personal club records last term, becoming United's youngest Premier League goalscorer after netting in December's 3-0 win against Fulham at St. James' Park whilst becoming Newcastle's youngest European debutant after featuring in the UEFA Champions League against 2024 finalists Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park.
The double setback may have halted Miley's rapid rise in senior football, which resulted in signing a new long-term contract in January, but the highly-rated youngster believes his unfortunate injuries have allowed himself to reap the rewards away from the football pitch as he nears his long-awaited return.
"I've never really had injuries like these before so it was really hard at the start of it but, mentally, I feel even stronger as a person and I think it will benefit me in the future," Miley said.
"It's not nice to be injured but it has helped me work on other things, such as in the gym, where I wouldn't be able to if I was playing regularly so it's been a positive in a way to make myself stronger, both physically and mentally.
"I feel I have gained more muscle and I think that can also help me for when I'm back so that I'm strong, fit and ready to go.
"I'm really looking forward to being back and the better quality of players in the team, the more they'll help me improve as a player. I want to try and get as many minutes as possible to try and perform, showing people what I can do again."
