Lewis Miley admits he did not complain when a January loan exit was blocked by Eddie Howe at the end of last year.

There are a queue of Championship sides that would love to take the 18-year-old on a loan until the end of the season, but Howe knows that he is more than capable of stepping into his starting XI when called upon - just like he did in huge games last term. The 6ft 2in midfielder slotted straight into Howe's midfield and stole the show against Bromley on FA Cup third round day.

Amassing 133 touches he dictated the game while making 117 passes, scoring the equaliser and having a hand in the two other goals. This was the stuff of dreams for the player who was injured twice in 2024.

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Miley told Chronicle Live: "I was buzzing with my performance and getting that goal, it is really good for my confidence too. I think we all had a good performance, and we are really looking forward to things now.

"I knew I was going to get more of the ball with playing a low block. I think we just had to be patient. We did that more in the second half, and that showed with the goals."

Miley will have his eye on more minutes under Howe in the weeks to come and he made it clear he wasn't keen on a loan out any time soon.

Miley said: "I am happy being here, competing with all the lads, it is a really good place at the minute for me. It is good to get minutes, progressing myself and now I just need to keep it going."

Looking back on his sparkling display against Bromley, with his statistics head and shoulders above anybody on the pitch, Miley went on: "In games like that, you have to dictate quite a lot. Obviously, they are just trying to frustrate you and counter-attack a lot. But I think we done well doing that. I think all round it was a good game from us."

The Stanley youngster had only scored one goal at senior level before the third round tie, and said it was a result of being pushed by his team-mates.

The midfielder said: "I saw the goal light up and I thought: 'I might as well hit it!' A lot of the lads have been telling me to get my shots off so I hit it low and saw it go in the back of the net. I am buzzing with it."

With a back and foot injury behind him, Miley was told to work his way back through the Under-21 team. It was a challenge he didn't shirk but now his first-team manager has another selection dilemma.

Miley will dare to break into the dynamic midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali. If he plays like he did against Bromley in a Premier League game, nobody will back against him.

Miley said: "It has been hard. It has been good getting minutes for the reserves and now I just need to get my fitness back. I think now I am in a good place. I feel strong and ready to go."