WHATEVER else he goes on to achieve in his career, Lewis Miley will always remember the 57th minute of yesterday’s 3-0 win over Fulham.

It was a moment the Stanley-born 17-year-old would have been dreaming of the whole of his life. Receiving the ball from Bruno Guimaraes, standing in the penalty area in front of the Gallowgate End, a first senior goal was there for the taking. Head down, stay calm, drive a shot into the far bottom corner. Then celebrate.

The rest, as he admitted after the game, is something of a blur. He raced towards the corner flag between Gallowgate and Milburn Stands, with his team-mates haring after him screaming their support. Sliding on his knees, he raised his arms to acknowledge the acclaim of the crowd he would have been a part of had he not progressed so successfully through Newcastle’s academy. Turning away, he was ushered back towards the supporters by his team-mate, Anthony Gordon, to ensure he was able to soak up every last second of the adulation.

At 17 years and 229 days, the goal made Miley Newcastle’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer, as well as the youngest Premier League scorer from any club since Federico Macheda found the net for Manchester United in 2009. It also provided further evidence of why the County Durham teenager is already regarded so highly at St James’ Park.

From the moment he strode onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge to make his senior debut on the final day of last season, it has been clear that Miley has the potential to be something rather special. His assist for Alexander Isak in last month’s win over Chelsea was proof of his burgeoning ability, with last week’s Champions League assist for Joelinton another notable feather in his cap. Now, after Saturday, he is a Premier League goalscorer. Excitingly, though, there could be so much more to come.

“There’s a reason he’s been around the senior squad for so long, and there’s a reason why we all speak so highly of him,” said Miley’s team-mate, Sean Longstaff, who knows a thing or two about progressing from Newcastle’s academy to make a significant mark in the club’s first team. “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.

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“He’s come in the dressing-room just now 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.”

Miley, who attended Tanfield School prior to signing his first professional deal, is one of four brothers, all of whom appear to have inherited sporting genes. One of his younger brothers, Jamie, is part of Newcastle’s academy set-up, and briefly played alongside him in midfield in the pre-season friendly against Gateshead.

As Eddie Howe has pointed out on a number of occasions, the strength of Miley’s family network should help him keep his feet on the ground, and he also has the support of Newcastle’s senior players, who have made it part of their responsibility to help protect and nurture such a special talent. Given Miley’s age though – he does not turn 18 until May – there are statutory protections that Newcastle still have to have in place.

“It’s funny,” said Longstaff. “We had the safeguarding officer in (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. It was at the training ground, our player liaison officer had to meet with the safeguarding officer just to make sure everything is alright. It’s mad, how can you go from checking he’s okay to being the best player on the pitch?”

Miley’s goal was certainly crucial at the weekend, enabling Newcastle to wrest control of things against a ten-man Fulham side that put up stout resistance in the wake of Raul Jimenez’s senseless 21st-minuite dismissal.

Jimenez, seemingly incensed by an earlier clash with Jamaal Lascelles, leapt into Longstaff, catching the Magpies midfielder in the face. Referee Sam Barrott initially awarded a yellow card, but rightly changed his mind and issued a red after reviewing the incident on his pitchside monitor.

“I just remember passing to Bruno, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor,” said Longstaff. “The only time I’ve seen it before is when my dad played ice hockey. He played with someone called Nicklas Kronwall, and if you YouTube or Google his greatest hits, I think they’re exactly like that to be fair, but that was in ice hockey!”

Miley’s opener was followed by a second goal from Miguel Almiron, with the Paraguayan pouncing from close range after Callum Wilson was prevented from reaching Anthony Gordon’s through ball by a challenge from Antonee Robinson that would probably have resulted in a penalty had the ball not ended up in the net.

Newcastle added a third goal with eight minutes left, with Dan Burn bundling home at the second attempt after his initial header from Guimaraes’ cross had been saved by Bernd Leno.