NEWCASTLE’S safeguarding officer was at the training ground on Friday checking the rest of the squad were being nice to teen sensation Lewis Miley.
Yet there is no danger of anything but love coming his way now after the academy starlet, 17, became Newcastle’s youngest ever Prem scorer on Saturday.
ReutersLewis Miley was the star of the show against Fulham on Sunday[/caption]
They did try and get Miley to give a speech and do a dance after seeing Fulham off to reignite their top four hopes following a tricky spell, but the “humble” youngster was having none of it.
And fellow local midfielder Sean Longstaff just can’t get his head around the impact Miley is making.
Having excelled over six straight starts recently, he came off the bench to put Toon ahead against the 10-man Cottagers just as nerves were starting to jangle.
Longstaff said: “It’s funny – we had the safeguarding officer on Friday, making sure people are treating him alright in the changing room.
“The funniest bit about it is the fact he’s so young. It’s because he’s under 18 they have to check everyone is doing everything right in front of him and it’s mad … how can you go from checking he’s okay to being the best player on the pitch.
“We haven’t taken the mickey out of him for that yet. He’s in such a good place and playing so well that we don’t really want to get into him to be fair!
“He came in the dressing-room afterwards and you couldn’t tell he’s scored, he’s just exactly the same.
“Everyone started shouting and screaming at him, telling him to give us a speech and ‘dance, dance’ and he just put his head down like a typical 17-year-old kid and said ‘naaaa’.
“He just sat there as if he’s used to doing it. I’m really happy for him, he’s such a humble kid. He’s got all the talent in the world and we’re just lucky to have him.
“It’s a massive goal – it could be one of the biggest in our season to kick start us for the rest of it.”
Newcastle fans caught a glimpse of Miley’s potential when he was the star of their pre-season tour to the US.
But if it wasn’t for £55million Sandro Tonali’s 10-month betting ban, there is every chance he wouldn’t have featured this season.
Yet Longstaff added: “There’s a reason why we all speak so highly of him. None of us are surprised about what’s happened because he’s ridiculously good. It’s the way he receives the ball, the way he passes it, he’s a good size. His start to life in the Premier League and Champions League has been absolutely unbelievable and I’m so happy for him
“He’s got the perfect people to guide him through it, he’s got great pros around him who will help him too and he comes from a good family and he’s got his feet on the ground. All that is probably 90 per cent of it.
“If he doesn’t get carried away and keeps working hard and keeps enjoying it, that’s the main thing.
“He shouldn’t put too much pressure on himself because there probably will come a time when it dips a little bit because that’s just natural. We hope that doesn’t happen of course and if he keeps the level head he’s got I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
ReutersSean Longstaff has been amazed by Miley’s impact[/caption]