Eddie Howe calls up Mason Miley and Rory Finneran

Eddie Howe is back in his favourite place - on the training pitch with all of his players around him. It's a sight that the Newcastle United boss hasn't seen enough of this season.

The Magpies' involvement in the Champions League and the latter stages of the domestic cups has meant that there hasn't been a lot of time for Howe to put his charges through their paces properly, as games were coming around too quickly to allow for full training sessions.

Since the end of the last international break, Newcastle have had the time to work on the training pitch again, and although you wouldn't think so judging by the performances, it can only be a good thing.

Newcastle are currently preparing to face their bogey team, Brighton and Hove Albion, on Saturday, and it looks to be all hands on deck for Eddie Howe.

As reported on the club's official site and via NUFC360 on X, Eddie Howe has called up a few Under-21s to train with the first team.

Eddie Howe is casting an eye over Rory Finneran and Mason Miley

The likes of Leo Shahar, Alex Murphy and Sean Neave have been regulars around the first team this season, but Howe has added a couple of extra faces this week.

Howe has called upon 18-year-old Rory Finneran, who signed from Blackburn last year and has been catching the eye for the Under-21s this season, and the Newcastle gaffer is also getting more Miley for his money after calling up 17-year-old Mason Miley to the first team.

The younger Miley brother will be hoping to follow in Lewis's footsteps by impressing Eddie Howe and nailing down a place in teh first team going forward.

We don't expect either to be in the team on Saturday

Of course, this doesn't mean we should expect to see Finneran or Mason Miley's names on the team sheet on Saturday, but if they show enough in training between now and the end of the season, we may see them in pre-season games.

It was reported yesterday that FIFA are contemplating a rule which would require clubs to field a homegrown Under-21 player at all times, so it makes sense that we should already be looking to do that just in case the rule comes in at some point in the future.

If Mr and Mrs Miley could just keep their production line going, we could have a Miley in the team for the foreseeable future if we pluck Layton Miley from Middlesbrough's academy, too. No pressure, Mick and Maxine.