Newcastle United are set to name youngster Michael Mills in the first-team squad for the first time against Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies have had a difficult start to the season after starting the campaign with a draw against Liverpool and a win over Tottenham Hotspur, failing to win either of their next two games, including a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Leeds United most recently.
Manager Matthias Jaissle has also now been rocked by several injuries to key players at the same time, with forward Anthony Elanga expected to be sidelined for an extended period with an undisclosed injury which forced him to miss the trip to Elland Road earlier this week.
Alongside Elanga, Newcastle are set to be without Nico Gonzalez (concussion), Amar Dedic (hamstring), William Osula (ankle), Dan Burn (ankle), Jacob Ramsey (hamstring), Joelinton (hamstring), and Ewen Jaouen (ankle) for the visit of unbeaten Hull on Saturday afternoon.
As a result, Jaissle is set to look towards his academy options for the game, and is set to hand winger Michael Mills his first opportunity to make an impact with the first-team at St James’ Park, according to Chronicle Live.
The 17-year-old was part of the travelling party that went to Leeds on Monday but was not named in the squad. However, it’s understood that Jaissle has been very impressed by the forward’s attitude in training.
Mills has been described as ‘really exciting’ for his style of play, and Jaissle has liked what he has seen in training, with the player seamlessly stepping up from academy level to hang with the first-team.
Having joined the club as a 14-year-old from Port Vale, Mills has impressed and progressed through every stage of the club’s academy, including scoring twice in the Under-18s FA Youth Cup win over Portsmouth, before moving up to Under-21 level.
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Jaissle: Youth Will Get a Chance
Jaissle arrived at St James’ Park in the summer to replace Eddie Howe, and has already implemented big changes with the style of play on the pitch.
But the German also wants the Academy to provide a ‘bridge’ to the first-team, and has promised that youngsters will get a chance to prove themselves under him when the time is right, namechecking Mills in the process.
“Michael [Mills] is a young lad but is so positive. Also, when I see the development just in the last weeks, of course if there is the right time, and the right space in the squad, they will be getting the chance and this is also our way. We have a good bridge, a close bridge between the youth academy, bringing these players closer and closer to the first team and hopefully let them play on the big stage.”
