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Miele Feels Just Champion - Again
Written by Newcastle Utd
Last season Brandon Miele tasted title success at under-18 level and on Friday he scored as Newcastle's under-21s were crowned champions
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Call it the luck of the Irish if you like, but young midfielder Brandon Miele has discovered a couple of happy knacks.
Firstly, the former Cherry Orchard starlet has hit a decent vein of goalscoring form - his strike in Friday night's Barclays Under-21 Premier League defeat to Bolton was a second in his last three starts having not found the net prior to last month's win over Norwich.
And secondly, he has now won two league titles in two seasons. Despite the 2-1 loss to the Trotters, Newcastle clinched the Tier Two title on goal difference and Miele was also part of last season's under-18 side which won the Premier Academy Group D.
"It's not a bad habit - and hopefully it keeps on going," the 18-year-old told nufc.co.uk after securing his latest title with the Magpies.
"It's a great success for the team. From September up until Christmas wasn't really as good and we got put in the bottom league, but from then on we've shown some good determination and we've won the league.
"To be fair, I think the big difference between now and the first part of the season is just more honesty - people wanting it more and playing better as a team.
"We've come together as a team and I think the (Viareggio) tournament in Italy helped us as well because all the Academy lads came, they got involved more and I think that brought us together more."
As a result of winning Tier Two, Newcastle now take on Everton in a play-off match next week. Goodison Park is expected to be the venue and Miele said: "Hopefully we can get a result against them.
"It's obviously better playing in stadiums, on great pitches and there'll be a good crowd there as well. It'll be a tough game but it'll be a good game and a good test for us.
"We played against them when I was at the Academy but I don't think I've ever played against them for the Reserves so it'll be a new team to play against."
On Friday, Miele had already hit the bar before giving United a 24th minute lead at Whitley Park. Sanmi Odelusi equalised and an Adam Blakeman penalty turned the game on its head but Newcastle still had cause for celebration at the full-time whistle.
And so did in-form Miele, whose rasping drive came after good work from Bradden Inman and Michael Richardson.
He explained: "It came across my body and I just hit it, and it went in the top corner so it was good to get on the scoresheet.
"To be fair, I said to myself before the game that if I got a chance to shoot I was going to do it - especially when we had the wind in our favour - so I did that and got success with it.
"I think I need to bring it more into my game, to shoot more around the box, but I did it today and it paid off."