'A brilliant experience' - Miley reflects on Premier League home debut

United broke the deadlock inside 13 minutes as Alexander Isak netted his seventh Premier League goal of the 2023/24 campaign, calmly slotting home following Miley’s impressive pass, before Chelsea levelled the scoring through Raheem Sterling’s free-kick.

Newcastle, however, netted twice in the space of a minute following second half strikes from Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton and, following Reece James’ dismissal after the Blues skipper picked up a second yellow card, Anthony Gordon rounded off the scoring with his fifth league goal of the season.

Miley, the club’s youngest ever Premier League debutant after featuring away at Chelsea on the final day of the 2022/23 season, told nufc.co.uk: “It was a brilliant experience, especially making my first Premier League start at St. James’ Park. Hopefully, I can get many more opportunities.

“Before the first goal, I was just about to shoot and then I spotted Alex just through the middle of the defenders, who thought I was going to shoot, and I managed to play the ball to Alex who scored.

“It was a brilliant feeling after the ball hit the back of the net and hearing the noise of the crowd when we scored. It was a great moment for me.

"I got told by Alex during the celebrations, after I passed to him, to keep doing that and it’s really good to hear that kind of encouragement from players who are playing at international level. It gives me more belief as a player."

Miley, who became the club’s youngest ever player in European competition after featuring during the Magpies’ UEFA Champions League away clash against Borussia Dortmund, was full of praise for United’s second half display and highlighted the importance of the two goals in quick succession towards the hour mark.

A product of Newcastle’s youth set-up, joining the Magpies’ Academy at the age of seven, Miley expressed his delight to see a trio of youngsters make their Premier League bows in the closing stages against the Blues, with Alex Murphy, Amadou Diallo and Michael Ndiweni all introduced from the substitutes’ bench.

The Stanley-born teenager added: “We needed to show real determination in the second half to pull away and once we scored the third goal, we got even better after that.

“Scoring two goals in a minute was really important. I really enjoyed playing at St. James’ Park today, especially getting almost a full game and scoring four goals in front of the home crowd.

“I was buzzing for all the lads who came on to make their Premier League debuts. You had Ben Parkinson come on against Bournemouth, too, so it was good for me and them to be on the pitch to share those moments and, hopefully, there can be more opportunities in the future."