Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe.placeholder image
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe. | AFP via Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo's hunt for a first win as West Ham manager continues against Newcastle United this weekend.
Newcastle United could see full-back Lewis Hall return to their team this weekend for the Premier League meeting with West Ham in a boost for the visitors ahead of a trip to the London Stadium.
Eddie Howe’s side have a midweek Carabao Cup meeting with Tottenham Hotspur to navigate first but then make the trip to the capital to take on an our of sorts Hammers side. The London outfit haven’t won since beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 in August.
Nuno Espirito Santo is looking to bounce back from bitter defeats against Brentford and Leeds United after the international break but may not be helped by the return to fitness of Lewis Hall.
Newcastle United tease injury boost for West Ham
Speaking ahead of their cup fixture this week, Eddie Howe provided an injury update. He said: "Sven has no concussion, it was a cut, a bad cut, which he had stapled together. He didn’t train yesterday, but we will see how he is today.
“Lewis is the closest to coming back out of those injured, but this game will come too quickly for him. Tino is still on track, we are looking at the Manchester City game for him for when he can be available for."
That would suggest that Newcastle United are targeting a return for Hall on Sunday afternoon. The defender has missed the last four Premier League matches due to a hamstring injury.
Lewis Hall praised for efforts against West Ham
Newcastle United beat West Ham 1-0 at the London Stadium last season and it’s been just over 12 months since Julen Lopetegui picked up a huge 2-0 win on Tyneside. That was a much needed turn in form at the time and Nuno will be hoping for something of the same.
Hall knows what it takes to go up against West Ham, and was rated as the Magpies’ best player in that 2-0 defeat last term. He was awarded a 7/10 for his performance by NUFC Blog at the time with the website writing: “Continued his form from his England call-up and was the best of a bad bunch tonight. Good work rate for the full back who didn’t let his head drop.”
The former Chelsea man has regularly been praised by Howe, who hailed him as a ‘shining light’ last season. The Magpies boss said: "He has played really well this season. He has been very consistent. He has been a real shining light in that aspect by being the same Lewis, home or away. For someone so young that is hard to do.
"His technical delivery has been outstanding, building attacks, his final ball can improve, but great to see him get two assists so far. Defensively he has been pretty good, but there are still areas to improve and develop. He's moving in the right direction, but for someone so young his maturity levels have been really good."
In other news, Craig Dawson: Where is 35-year-old and could he realistically re-sign for West Ham?.
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