Lewis Hall was, as usual, one of Newcastle United’s top players last night.
The lifelong United fan is almost always, except on very rare occasions, one of Eddie Howe’s top three players in any match.
That was certainly the case against Burnley, just as it had been against Man U, Chelsea…
Although he appeared to suffer an ankle injury at Turf Moor, it looked like Lewis Hall would be forced off, having twice undergone lengthy treatment on the pitch and Alex Murphy on the side of the pitch seemingly about to come on.
Very difficult for Eddie Howe as United were under pressure to secure their 2-1 lead in the second half and one of his best players went off, not exactly positive.
In the end, Lewis Hall completed the entire match, although Newcastle United fans were left wondering how this would leave the left-back for the games to come.
An update has been released via the media Craig Hope from The Mail which revealed he spoke to Lewis Hall after Tuesday night’s win. With the now 21-year-old defender saying that his ankle felt okay and that it should be fine for the coming games.
For me, Lewis Hall is an incredible talent.
A very good defender AND an elite player when he has the ball. For me there is no question that he is England’s best left-back, with ironically Tino Livramento the next best for England, although Tino is even better in his natural right-back position.
It was shameful how journalists and some Newcastle United fans raged when Lewis Hall was first signed. Only 18 when he arrived on loan in August 2023 to secure a permanent contract, yet so many fans and journalists call his signing a colossal failure as he only started eight Premier League games in his first season (2023/24). It was quite clear that Eddie Howe, given his age and lack of experience (only eight league starts in his career before joining Newcastle), knew he had to give Lewis Hall time to get up to speed and be ready for regular first-team action.
As usual, Eddie Howe knew best.
Lewis Hall played week in week out last season and was one of Newcastle United’s three best players along with Sandro Tonali and the Rat (as always…).
I felt so sorry for Hall when he got injured, ironically against Liverpool, shortly before the cup final.
At the time I thought it was all a bit bizarre how quickly many fans and journalists chose to forget how elitist Lewis Hall is. Tino Livramento was excellent when he filled in for Hall for the final few months last season and has played there again this season. However, that didn’t change the fact that Lewis Hall is Newcastle and England’s best left-back, just as I believe Tino Livamento is on the right.
When Lewis Hall is on the pitch, Newcastle United are a better team. no question.
A huge bonus too is that from his earliest childhood memories he has always been Newcastle United through and through.
When signing for Newcastle United in August 2023, Lewis Hall stated: “I’m very proud. Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and when me and my brother were growing up it was drilled into us that we were Newcastle. To now be here at Newcastle, the club I have supported since childhood, I am honored and very proud to wear this shirt.”
Like I said, it’s amazing how negative some people can be when they’re so quick to judge when an 18 year old is signed. I trusted Eddie Howe’s judgment at the time, both on the £28 million deal that was agreed and the way he gave the teenager all the time he needed to be ready for regular Premier League football.
The reality is that for me this is perhaps the best £28m Newcastle United have ever spent on a player and the huge bonus is that Lewis Hall is still only 21 and could/should be Newcastle and England’s left-back for the next decade.
Only injury will prevent Thomas Tuchel (who was at Chelsea when Hall came through the ranks) from including Lewis Hall in his World Cup squad this summer.
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