Newcastle player snubbed by Eddie Howe could return in January due to surprise loan clause

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Things have taken a turn for Jamal Lewis since leaving Newcastle United on loan in the summer.

Jamal Lewis featured in Newcastle’s pre-season games against Hull City, Yokohama F.Marinos and Brest.

Despite that, Lewis was loaned to Sau Paulo with Magpies boss Eddie Howe didn’t see him as a viable first-team option and joined the five other Newcastle players to leave on loan.

Lewis spent last season on loan at Championship side Watford and had options to move elsewhere in England before deciding to make the move to South America. The loan came as a shock to many Newcastle fans.

Unfortunately for Lewis, things haven’t gone to plan since making the move in September with Sao Paulo’s sporting director making a surprising revelation about his move.

Jamal Lewis could return to Newcastle United after suffering an ankle injury

The Northern Irish international joined Sao Paulo intending to get more game time but Lewis had a tough start to his loan when he benched against Bahia with the manager opting to play a centre-back in his position instead.

Lewis made six appearances for the Brazilian top-flight club before suffering an ankle injury which has left his loan hanging in the balance.

According to UOL, sporting director Carlos Belmonte revealed that there is a chance Lewis could be sent back to Newcastle in January due to a clause in the loan deal.

He said: “The position is the board’s priority in the transfer market, and the dream is Wendell, from Porto.

“However, if the Portuguese club demands financial compensation, São Paulo will be in a complicated position in the deal, Jamal might not be [a Sao Paulo player after January].

“We have a clause in his contract – Newcastle could call him up at the start of the season, and we could return him. Our relationship with Newcastle is exceptional.

“He’s got an ankle problem and we’re making an assessment. It’s already been agreed with Newcastle: if he has to have surgery, he’ll go back for the surgery and the recovery process in England.”

Jamal Lewis wants to make Sao Paulo his long-term home

While the move to Brazil was a shock to many Newcastle fans, it’s something that Lewis has thrived on and wants to remain there.

In a discussion with Toon boss Eddie Howe, Lewis revealed how he felt like “the writing was on the wall” for him during his time at Newcastle so a move away looked like the only option.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: “If Sao Paulo can be my long-term home for the long-term future, that would be amazing.”

“When this came up, I thought it was the opportunity, and I grabbed it with both hands.

“South America is so far away, but it is a League that is looked at, and globally, it’s a big League with a lot of big players coming out of it.

“My Portuguese is minimal at the minute, but I’m on Duolingo at the minute and I’m going to get a teacher to help me adapt, too.”

Lewis’ contract is up at the end of the season and it’s looking increasingly likely that he will leave the club no matter what happens as a result of his ankle injury. Sao Paulo has the option to make the deal permanent but no decision has been made yet.