Eddie Howe has warned that Newcastle must avoid falling into a PSR hole that forces them to sell star academy products such as Lewis Miley.
The Magpies boss insists the club had no choice but to sell Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest last June. Without this, he says, they would have faced a points deduction from the Premier League for breaching spending rules.
Anderson shone at the City Ground and at St James' Park there is still regret over the loss of the Geordie midfielder.
Howe understands that the nature of PSR means that players like Anderson and Miley are quick fixes to balance sheet deficits, given the 'pure profit' they generate.
But the head coach doesn't want to see a repeat of the Anderson scenario. He would rather be able to build a team around midfielder Miley in the coming years.
“The last thing we want to do, or what I want to do as manager of the club, is sell academy products that have the potential to play for this team for years to come,” Howe said.
“Elliot was a good example of that: it was the last sale we wanted to make. We knew his qualities and he had only broken into the team at the end of last season. He has performed very well for us in different roles.
'But we literally had no other option at that point, with 48 hours to go, we had to make a decision we didn't want to make. It will always be our last choice to do that. But if you put it all together and you say, 'Well, it's points deductions and violating the PSR or making a sale, I think you should make the sale.'
Miley, 18, was man-of-the-match during Sunday's 3-1 win over Bromley in the FA Cup. It was his first start since February after back and foot injuries. And while he has impressed operating in a deeper No.6 role, Howe believes it is too early to commit the England Under-21 international to one position.
“He's a little bit of everything (Nos. 6, 8 and 10),” Howe said. “I wouldn't label it as one position at this point. He has played very well as a 6 and I liked him in that position on Sunday. He was given a lot of possession and took on that responsibility very well.
'But he has the ability to play as an 8. When he played last year, he was usually in the higher position. I remember him scoring and assisting. He certainly has great legs. What he has added during his time out is a little bit more physicality, more strength. His aerial skills also improve. He is a real all-rounder who can do a little bit of everything.'
Meanwhile, Howe has revealed that winger Harvey Barnes will be absent for a month due to a thigh injury, but striker Alexander Isak will return to the starting line-up for the visit of Wolves on Wednesday after a hamstring injury.
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