Miley the gift that keeps giving

LEWIS MILEY has become our man for all reasons before appreciative Geordie eyes this festive period.

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First he scattered the notion that United's international midfield trio of Bruno, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton are untouchable, by forcing his way onto Eddie Howe's starting sheet through sheer joyous endeavour.

Then, when a crisis reared at fullback, with first Lewis Hall and then Tino Livramento joining Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth and Dan Burn in being confined to barracks, up he stepped to play right-back as if to the manor born.

Eddie Howe revealed he had to coach Miley on how to perform as a No.2 on the morning of the match against Fulham, but such is his nimble footballing brain he was as smooth as silk, and repeated his classy performance when Chelsea came visiting on Saturday.

Oh and amid it all, Lewis proved to be a goalscorer of varied finishes with a volley away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on the way to a 2-2 draw, and that dramatic 92nd-minute winner to put us into the Carabao Cup semifinals from right-back.

The header that put Fulham to the sword made Miley the 11th Magpie to score in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League, which is quite something given his young years.

Lest we forget, this man-boy is still a teenager not 20 until May next year. Already he's grown into a 6ft 4in giant, with an all-round talent that's 10ft tall.

Miley reminds me so much of another local kid who made good.