Newcastle start Miley brothers as Leverkusen friendly kicks off Visit Malta

What Happened

Newcastle United confirmed their lineup for a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen at St James’ Park as part of the Visit Malta weekend. Lewis Miley returned to a matchday squad after a three-month injury absence and started in the XI, paired with his younger brother Mason Miley, who is 17 and has been a frequent bench option in pre-season but will now start. The Leverkusen side, managed by Matthias Jaissle, will rotate players across the two Malta fixtures, with non-starting Newcastle players set to feature against Strasbourg on Sunday. The Leverkusen squad for the match included a mix of first-team players and younger options, while Newcastle’s bench for the Leverkusen game is listed as academy names for future involvement.

Why It Matters

The match marks Miley’s return to competitive action in a Newcastle shirt after a lengthy lay-off, and his involvement—alongside a youthful Newcastle line-up—highlights the club’s approach to integrating academy players into pre-season plans ahead of the Premier League campaign. It also provides a gauge of Leverkusen’s pre-season preparations against a Premier League club at a familiar venue, with the two clubs using the Malta weekend to assess squad depth and readiness.

Background

The fixture is described as the first of two Visit Malta friendlies hosted by Newcastle United at St James’ Park, with attention on Miley’s comeback and the exposure for Mason Miley as he earns a starting opportunity in a first-team setting. Miley previously scored for Newcastle in a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen last season, situating this game as a reunion with the German side.

Key Facts

• Venue: St James’ Park, as part of the Visit Malta weekend.
• Opponent: Bayer Leverkusen.
• Newcastle player return: Lewis Miley back in the matchday squad after a three-month injury layoff.
• Starting XI: Lewis Miley starts; Mason Miley (17) starts on the bench/lineup context; the pair are brothers.
• Leverkusen management: Matthias Jaissle is the manager; squad to be split across weekend fixtures with academy players involved in the second match.
• Upcoming: Newcastle’s Premier League opener is referenced as taking place against Liverpool shortly after the Malta weekend.
• Other Newcastle notes: The bench for the Leverkusen match includes academy players; some listed potential first-team names were mentioned as being involved in Sunday’s match against Strasbourg.

What Happens Next

According to the arrangement, Newcastle players not involved against Leverkusen are set to feature against Strasbourg on Sunday as part of the same Malta weekend. This sequence provides additional opportunities for academy players to gain exposure and for the squad to assess readiness ahead of the Premier League season, which is described as starting within a little over a week with a home clash against Liverpool.