Lewis Hall of Newcastle United passes the ball during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Leicester City FC at St James' Park. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Lewis Hall of Newcastle United passes the ball during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Leicester City FC at St James' Park. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Lewis Hall of Newcastle United passes the ball during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Leicester City FC at St James' Park. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lewis Hall is already making a strong claim to become Newcastle United’s player of the season.
A crown currently held by Anthony Gordon, drop one position back in Newcastle’s starting XI and you’ll find a 20-year-old who wasn’t even on the team sheet this time last year.
It makes it even more remarkable that in the space of 12 months, Hall has gone from bench-warming to United’s first-choice left-back. And on current form, he is arguably the best in the country too.
Lewis Hall of Newcastle United passes the ball during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Leicester City FC at St James' Park. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Lewis Hall of Newcastle United passes the ball during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Leicester City FC at St James' Park. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Lewis Hall of Newcastle United passes the ball during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Leicester City FC at St James' Park. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There, of course, were reasons behind Hall’s initial struggles on Tyneside. A Slough-born lad who, despite being a boyhood Newcastle, had barely stepped foot in the north.
Patience is the word head coach Eddie Howe often used when asked about Hall. It was in March when people only really began to understand why.
As well as adapting to life away from his family, he was adapting to Howe and Newcastle’s style. There were flaws in his game, and there still are now to some extent, but they are rarely spotted these days.
Hard work and dark days were required and now he is reaping the rewards.
Hall’s performance in Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Leicester City added to his long list of impressive displays this term. But this was his best attacking-wise.
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Assisting the second and third goal, as well as having a hand in the first, Hall had the most touches, played the most passes, and created the most chances for his teammates.
“Lewis has attacked really well in terms of getting into the positions,” said Howe. “But the final ball, for whatever reason, and that's not always the cross, maybe we haven't got enough bodies in the box so there's loads of different reasons.
“I've seen Lewis working with the coaches earlier this week in two of the five days we had to prepare for the game. I believe players don't get lucky, they get what they deserve on the back of that work so congratulations to him.”
If you weren’t questioning why Newcastle had set aside £28million to sign Hall permanently from Chelsea this time last year then I reckon you’re lying! A tip of the hat to Howe & Co for jumping on the opportunity to get him through the door.
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