It says a lot about Newcastle United’s season that one of the more interesting things to look out for during the final home game of the campaign is whether Lewis Hall plays at right-back.
Eddie Howe’s options in that particular role have taken a battering this season. Tino Livramento, Lewis Miley and Emil Krafth are unlikely to play again.
Let’s hear you predictions for West Ham and why 👇
That stat makes me angry every time I see it 😡
All of that is why Howe’s decision over Hall will tell us a lot about what’s going on at Newcastle right now.
Starting Hall over Kieran Trippier would be a statement from Eddie Howe
There is one option to fill in at right-back and that is a certain Kieran Trippier – a genuine modern day legend at the club who will be leaving after the next two games are complete.
It was a surprise, then, that Hall started out of position in that role in Sunday’s draw with Nottingham Forest all while Trippier remained on the bench until the dying embers of the game.
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For all the talk of a congested Premier League table theoretically offering Newcastle the chance to qualify for Europe if they finish the season strongly, it’s hard to actually believe it will happen.
Frankly, Newcastle have little to play for and Trippier should thereby get the farewell he deserves.
Overlooking him, then, would be a statement on how Howe is feeling. He talked about looking to the “future” when revealing why Trippier and Anthony Gordon largely remained on the bench at the City Ground.
Just how serious he is about that is ahead of what is expected to be a summer rebuild will be evident when Sunday’s team sheet lands.
The Trippier era at Newcastle could end in unceremonious fashion if Howe takes what is a gamble to start Hall at right-back once again.
Though there should be little room for sentiment at elite level, the context of the campaign means that taking that decision would have to be considered a snub to a Newcastle United legend.
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