Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has put Elliot Anderson on notice for tonight's clash with Leicester City.
Anderson could be handed a start in central midfield.
Howe said, “When you look back to the start of the season, I'd say he would now consider himself a first-team player as a fully integrated member of the first-team squad.
“He's trained consistently throughout the season. It's very difficult for those lads that haven't played regularly and when the team wins consistently, performing as well as they have to, wait for their chance. He's a young player that's been desperate to play.
"He's controlled his emotions really well and I do believe he's added elements and improved certain parts of his game that needed to improve. I'd say he's ready. He's versatile so he proved that against Brighton. He came on the right hand side of midfield. He's predominantly used by me as a left-sided player and he's very much capable so we believe in him.
“He showed in his loan spell last year that he's a big game player. When Bristol Rovers needed him, he stood up and made the difference. It could be a chance for him to do that again."
Howe also said of teenage midfielder Lewis Miley: “Lewis is a real talent. He's been training with the team for the majority of the season. The biggest compliment I can give him is he hasn't looked out of place. He's looked like part of the group and for someone so young to, technically, survive within the group is no mean feat.
“Some of the drills we do are very difficult and he's survived in those so that's a big thing. I would have no question marks about putting him in and whether he's ready or not, that will come down to how he performs.
“Part of me wanted Lewi to go away and represent his country. That would have been a great experience for him but then you have to take the viewpoint that I felt his club needed him here.
"We have a very small squad, currently, with a lot of injuries building up with the end of the season and what the players have given so he's got an important part to play."
