‘Frustrating’… £15m player admits he was getting very annoyed while playing for Newcastle

Add as preferred source on Google

Eddie Howe has managed to transform the careers of a number of Newcastle United players.

Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron are perhaps the headline examples of that but pretty much everyone at the club has been lifted since Howe replaced Steve Bruce in November 2021.

Still, there is one player Howe has not managed to turn into a success for Newcastle.

Indeed, £15m defender Jamal Lewis has made only eight appearances under the former Bournemouth coach and is now on loan at Watford.

Getting back into the swing of things down at Vicarage Road after a succession of injury problems, the 25-year-old has opened up on what playing a support role at Newcastle actually felt like.

Jamal Lewis: Northern Ireland defender opens up on Newcastle frustration

Writing in his programme notes ahead of his country’s win over Denmark this week, Lewis said: “I am loving it at Watford. I am enjoying playing football week in, week out.

“It’s a feeling every footballer wants. You only realise how important it is when you’re not playing regularly.

“It was frustrating at Newcastle. Timing, injuries and things like that impacted on things.

“They are still my parent club and I support the boys every week. But it was time for me to get my career back to where I needed it to be, and that was playing games at as high a level as I can.”

He added: “I have always enjoyed my career with Northern Ireland. During the two years when I didn’t play much for Newcastle, I always looked forward to the international break.

“It was an opportunity to get some game time. It is an opportunity you need to take with both hands.”

Jamal Lewis: Newcastle latest

It certainly wouldn’t be out of Howe’s capability as a coach to yield some improvement out of Lewis.

Highly rated enough at Norwich for Liverpool to be interested, it’s not as if the player is without his uses.

Still, where left-back once proved something of a problem position, Newcastle now have options – pending fitness, of course.

Dan Burn is the settled first-choice there, while Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have both occupied that role in his absence.

Matt Targett is another who Howe has spoken in glowing terms about, so it’s fair to say Lewis would be fifth choice as things stand.

Hopefully while at Watford, he can put himself in the shop window and try to raise Newcastle some cash.