Amid all of Newcastle United’s current left-back concerns, there is no hint of Lewis Hall getting a chance.
With Toon fans eager to see Tino Livramento start at left-back against Nottingham Forest after Dan Burn’s worrying display versus Luton Town, Lewis Hall remains an afterthought.
The 19-year-old is currently on loan at Newcastle United, but will become a permanent member of the squad in the summer for £28million. The Magpies have an obligation to buy the defender from Chelsea if certain terms are met, and it is highly likely that they will be.
Hall is one for the future at St James’ Park, but it has been a disappointing start – made all the more concerning given the Sandro Tonali situation and Harvey Barnes’ injury.
A lot of questions have been asked of Hall, with fans unclear why he is barely getting any game time. He has started four games for Newcastle so far, and in three of them he was withdrawn at half time.
It has not been a great start to life on Tyneside for the teenager, and now the Telegraph have provided an update on how Hall is viewed behind the scenes.
How Lewis Hall is viewed by Newcastle behind the scenes
According to the Telegraph, it is believed that Lewis Hall still has a lot to learn with regards to what Eddie Howe wants from him on the pitch.
On the face of it, that sounds worrying. However, there should be no cause for concern.
While he may still have a lot to learn, that perhaps says more about what is required to play for an Eddie Howe team. It has taken multiple players a long time to settle in. For example, Anthony Gordon is a completely different player now to what he was last season – and he arrived with a lot more senior experience than Hall.
As always is the case with a new signing, Toon fans have wanted to see more of Hall. And the fact that he has not been featuring has suggested that something is up.
But he is still developing and progressing, as he aims to get up to the standard that Howe requires.
Alarms bells should not be ringing, as Hall remains one for the future. For now, there is no need to panic.
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