Newcastle United spent the summer dealing with one of the toughest blows they have faced in recent years. Losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record fee of £125m was a moment that shook supporters and forced the club to rethink their entire attacking plan.
Isak had been more than a striker for Newcastle; he was the star who carried their attack, scoring an incredible 52 goals in his last two full seasons in all competitions. When a player like that leaves, it changes everything.
Eddie Howe and the recruitment team had to respond quickly, and to their credit, they worked hard to rebuild the squad and find new options who could take on the responsibility of scoring goals.
One of the major moves of the summer was the £69m arrival of Nick Woltemade, who stepped in as the direct replacement for Isak. The young forward has made a solid start with five goals in ten Premier League matches.
It is not easy to replace someone as special as Isak, but Woltemade has shown promise and looks like a player who can grow into a reliable scorer.
Newcastle also added Yoane Wissa from Brentford for £55m, but an injury has kept him sidelined, which means supporters still have no real sense of what he can offer. Until he gets on the pitch, it is impossible to judge whether he will be a success or not.
Another major investment was Jacob Ramsey, who has struggled to get going in a Newcastle shirt. Ten appearances, no goals, no assists, and very little influence have left him at the bottom of the list of new signings so far.
The club also brought in Aaron Ramsdale and Anthony Elanga, while their best performer from the summer window has undoubtedly been Malick Thiaw.
Below is a simple table ranking the summer signings based on their impact so far:
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Malick Thiaw |
| 2 | Nick Woltemade |
| 3 | Aaron Ramsdale |
| 4 | Anthony Elanga |
| 5 | Jacob Ramsey |
| N/A | Yoane Wissa |
Thiaw has been a revelation at the back. Signed from AC Milan for £30m, the towering German defender has brought calmness, strength, and authority to the Newcastle defence.
He has won an impressive 72% of his duels in the Premier League, showing why many now view him as one of the most dominant defenders in the squad. His brace against Everton only added to his growing reputation.
But while Thiaw has stolen a lot of attention, there is someone already inside the club who carries even more exciting potential someone who could become Newcastle’s next true superstar and even reach the same level of influence Isak once had. That player is Lewis Miley.
Miley was handed a rare chance to start in midfield against Everton, and he delivered a performance full of maturity and class. He won all of his physical duels and played with a calmness far beyond his 19 years.
His superb corner led to Thiaw’s early header, and he also scored Newcastle’s second goal with his weaker foot, beating Jordan Pickford with real confidence. It was the kind of performance that shows why he was once called “England’s next superstar” by BBC pundit Pat Nevin.
The young midfielder already has 60 first-team appearances for Newcastle, which is impressive for his age. But the next step in his development is the hardest one earning a permanent place in the starting lineup.
That means competing with top players like Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton. It is a huge challenge, but Miley’s intelligence, work rate, and growing impact suggest he can reach that level if he continues improving.
Miley has scored four goals and provided six assists in senior football so far, and while those numbers may not seem massive, they show his ability to affect games in big moments.
As a midfielder who can both score and create, he brings a type of talent that naturally generates excitement. Unlike a centre-back, who is often appreciated for stability and consistency, a creative midfielder can capture the imagination of supporters. Miley has that spark.
What makes Miley even more special is the fact he is a local academy product. Newcastle fans love players who come through the system and understand the culture, and Miley is exactly that.
He represents the club’s future and gives supporters someone to proudly call “one of their own.” If he continues to grow, he has the tools to become a long-term superstar at St. James’ Park.
He is not at Isak’s level yet, and no one expects him to be. But the potential is there. What he needs now is consistency. Every time Howe gives him minutes, he must show the same determination and quality he displayed against Everton. If he does that, the path is open for him to become Newcastle’s next great player.
Here is a simple table summarizing Miley’s early senior impact:
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| First-team appearances | 60 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Premier League starts this season | 3 |
Miley’s rise is only just beginning, but the excitement around him is real. With patience, hard work, and trust from the manager, he could grow into the next superstar Newcastle United have been waiting for.
