Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has hailed the transformation of Lewis Hall from rookie signing to the Magpies’ first choice left-back.
Once a shy looking youngster coming in from Stamford Bridge on loan last season, Hall has pushed on to be a player of the season candidate and is likely to be named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia later this month in front of a packed house at Wembley.
The 20-year-old was used by Chelsea in midfield, as a left winger and sometimes in the centre of the engine room, but Newcastle boss Howe and his coaching staff tirelessly worked with him last season on the training pitch to perfect his defensive game. And while the Slough-born defender was used sparingly last term – with just eight starts to his name – this season he has started 24 Premier League games and established himself as the number 1 left-back at St James’ Park.
For Howe, whose patient approach with Hall was scrutinised last season, the work with Hall is paying off handsomely. Hall still has the attacking tendencies that could see him used further up the field, but Howe does not see a move further up the pitch unfolding any time soon.
Howe told Chronicle Live: “I would probably say for us Lewis Hall is a left-back now. That’s not to say 100% I would not use him in any other position.
“I think he has the technical skills to play in other roles, but I think left-back is his best position for us. For any defender, you want continuity, and you want to know where you are playing.
“You want to be able to consistently work on your game. The level is so high that you can’t really lose focus on the fundamentals of that position.”
Hall’s form this season has been sparkling down the left and he was on fire against Nottingham Forest in the first half when he was involved in four goals in a devastating 11-minute spell that helped put Newcastle 4-1 up before the Magpies edged it by the odd goal in seven! Then on Wednesday, Hall showed his defensive capabilities by managing to keep Mo Salah off the scoresheet and end the Liverpool star’s run of scoring in eight successive games.
Howe, who must decide whether to rest Hall in order to give Matt Targett a much-needed run out against Brighton in the FA Cup, added: “I think he can be very pleased with his form. He did very well against Mo Salah on Wednesday.
“That was a really good test for him.”
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