The Newcastle United left-back has given Eddie Howe ‘stuff for thought’ ahead of their Premier League match against Everton.
Eddie Howe acknowledges Lewis Hall has given him ‘food for thought’ ahead of Newcastle United’s Premier League game against Everton on Tuesday night (7:30pm).
The 19-year-old was one of several players who made significant contributions off the bench as the Magpies rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat West Ham United 4-3 on Saturday. Harvey Barnes made headlines for his brace, but Hall also received plenty of plaudits for an all-action display down the left.
Hall has only appeared four times in 2024, but he is now vying for his first start since November, having impressed during the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City prior to the international break.
When asked about Hall’s recent form, Howe said: “It’s huge for him and huge for us because he’s done an incredible amount of work behind the scenes to work on various aspects of his game, just like we would with any young player.”
“He came on today and made a significant difference, and I felt he performed admirably against Manchester City. That’s his half of the bargain; when he plays, he has to perform well enough to try and remain in, so he’s given me a lot to think about.”
Hall is currently on loan from Chelsea and will be made permanent for an initial £28 million this summer once the performance-related criteria are formally met.
Indeed, Hall has had a rough start to his Newcastle career, with only four of his 13 outings leading to starts. He was taken off at half-time in three of those, with the exception of his Carabao Cup goal against Manchester United, but Howe has never questioned the England youth international’s quality.
Previously, Howe stated: “In terms of my thinking, I’m preparing for Lewis to be at Newcastle for many years.” He was always brought in with a long-term perspective, never as a short-term signing. He is a long-term signee.
“We have always believed in him and his abilities, and we have been working very hard with him on his game.” He’s an extremely talented young man. He, like the other players, has a few things to improve on. I believe in him. My ambition for him is that he will stay in Newcastle for many years.
“Sometimes, and I realize it’s a rare commodity these days, all we need is patience. All we have to do is wait for players to develop. There is no magic wand; only time and hard work on the training pitch. Players develop at different rates, but we’re thrilled with his improvement.
“When you consider someone of that age moving away from home, regardless of whether they are a footballer, you cannot ignore the difficulties that come with it. He’s handled himself admirably, and it’s been a period of personal development for him, even if the outside world may not have noticed.
“We’ve seen that inside, so it’s been a very powerful and great year for him. A lot of work has gone into him, and I am confident in his long-term prospects.”
