Eddie Howe’s work at improving players at Newcastle United cannot be overstated.
While the money PIF have afforded Howe to make new signings at Newcastle has no doubt helped too, few would doubt the work the Newcastle United manager has done on the coaching pitch.
Indeed, a number of players have hard their careers at St James’ Park utterly transformed. Joelinton is the obvious example, going from a £40million flop striker to a hugely important central midfielder.
Fabian Schar and Sean Longstaff are others to have come on leaps and bounds, while the improvements have not been limited to only the players he inherited.
Lewis Hall is another. The defender has publicly acknowledged the difficulty he first endured at Newcastle after joining from Chelsea but has since gone on to impress, earning his first call-up to the England squad as a result.
Reflecting on his improvement, former Blues boss Graham Potter spoke of his former player.
Graham Potter says Newcastle player he worked with needed to improve his defending
Hall’s struggles a few months ago were due to his defending not quite being up to scratch, something Potter admitted needed improvement too.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Potter said at 1.44pm GMT on 10/11/2024: “Well, he is a really strong physical specimen. I will say that, to start with, he has got the physicality to sprint up and down the pitch. Great left foot. Courage on the ball.
“The challenge for him, and I think Eddie (Howe) has alluded to this in the interviews that he has done, just knowing how to defend in a four, especially in a back-four, that has probably been the bit he has to improve. He is a quiet lad, doesn’t say too much, so very insular, very determined, though, at the same time, want to help his teammates. He is a good person. Good kid.”
Eddie Howe has given England a major boost without ever managing them
Howe, of course, was strongly linked with the England job after the departure of Gareth Southgate and before the appointment of Thomas Tuchel.
Ultimately, he remained at Newcastle but has seemingly done the Three Lions quite the favour, though Hall’s hard work behind the scenes is not to be overlooked.
England now have a fresh option at left-back, something which proved an issue during Euro 2024 when Luke Shaw was injured. There were very few other options given the injuries Ben Chilwell has suffered with but, thankfully for them, Hall now looks to be one.
Whether or not he starts regularly for England remains to be seen but it’s certainly a boost for them.
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