The one positive to come from Newcastle United’s defeat to West Ham was the return of Lewis Hall.
Heading into Sunday’s game at the London Stadium, Eddie Howe said that Lewis Hall was ‘very close’ to returning.
That return came against the Hammers, with Lewis Hall deemed fit enough to be on the bench for the Magpies. However, he was seemingly not fit enough to actually make an appearance.
During Newcastle United’s defeat to West Ham, they were crying out for a player like Hall. Eddie Howe really needed more attacking quality from his full-backs, which is something that Hall would have provided.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Howe has explained why he did not bring the 21-year-old on despite Newcastle United’s desperate performance.
Lewis Hall arrives at the London Stadium for West Ham vs Newcastle United.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Lewis Hall only on the Newcastle United bench through necessity
The Newcastle United manager spoke to the media immediately after losing to West Ham, and was asked about Hall being an unused substitute on his return from a hamstring injury.
“I was very reluctant to put him on,” he said.
“We had no other senior professionals to put on the bench today.
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“If we did then he wouldn’t have been on there. He’s done one training session with us and I don’t want to push him too early.”
Given what Howe has said about Hall’s inclusion against West Ham, it feels likely that he would not have been involved at all had Kieran Trippier not been ruled out through illness.
The 35-year-old was surprisingly missing on Sunday, with Emil Krafth starting back-to-back games in his absence.
Lewis Hall can aid Nick Woltemade at Newcastle United
Newcastle United desperately need Hall fit and firing.
While Dan Burn has played well at left-back, his attacking limitations are hindering the Magpies.
In Nick Woltemade, Newcastle have a striker who wants to bring others into the game. That is great for Anthony Gordon, who has had real joy in the Champions League from coming inside off the left flank.
However, that has resulted in a lack of width down the left for Newcastle. That is something that Hall can provide, and he will add another layer of depth to the Magpies’ forward line once he is back to full fitness.
Understandably, Eddie Howe will want to find a way of keeping Burn in his side. The Blyth defender is a vital member of the Newcastle United squad, but he will need to give way to Hall in the near future.
While supporters will hope that change comes soon, Howe’s latest comments on Hall suggest that he will be taking no chances with the youngster’s fitness.