Newcastle United Eddie Howe press conference review: Pre Brentford
Newcastle United have been boosted by the return of Lewis Hall from injury this past week.
Eddie Howe admitted Lewis Hall is ‘very much’ in his thoughts regarding his team selection for Newcastle United’s upcoming matches.
Hall has started just two competitive games for Newcastle since February due to a serious foot injury that required surgery. Then after returning to the starting line-up and starting two games in the space of four days against AFC Bournemouth and Bradford, Hall was rested against Arsenal before coming off the bench and picking up a hamstring injury against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League.
The injury sidelined Hall for a month before he returned on the bench against West Ham United but ultimately remained there as The Magpies lost 3-1 at the London Stadium.
Lewis Hall returns for NUFC
Hall marked his return from injury as a second half substitute in the 2-0 win over Athletic Club in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Howe told The Gazette: “Yes, it was my plan to try and give him minutes [v Athletic Club]. I can never make that guarantee, but it was in my mind to use him.
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“It was in my mind not to use him at West Ham, because he’d only had one training session and he’s worked so hard to get back. We don’t want to lose him now, having done all the hard work. So I thought it was the right time to introduce him.
“I thought he played very well, I was really pleased with him. We still have to have a level of caution with how much he can play, but positive steps for him.
“He’s trying to find his rhythm again and all the pitch dimensions and geography he needs to produce his best performances.”
Lewis Hall ‘closer’ to returning to starting XI as alternative ruled out
While Howe will be exercising caution regarding Hall’s return to the starting line-up, The Magpies boss admitted the 21-year-old is ‘very much’ in his thoughts. Newcastle travel to Brentford on Sunday (2pm kick-off) looking to pick up their first league away win since April.
Dan Burn is currently playing out of position at left-back with Tino Livramento still out injured and Hall building up his fitness after a serious injury and very limited game time over the past eight months. Livramento had replaced Hall as left-back following his injury before picking up an injury himself.
Livramento is pencilled in to return from his knee injury after the November international break. Meanwhile, Hall is primed to make an impact.
“He's closer, definitely,” Howe said on Hall’s return to the starting line-up. “I think it was a really good cameo from Lew [v Athletic Club].
“I think we have to remember he's had very, very limited training time, so I have to be careful with him. But of course, he's very much in my thoughts because of the quality of player that he is.
“But he's had a difficult period in the last few months. He obviously had a serious injury. The hamstring that he suffered this time wasn't serious, but it was enough to keep him out of action for a period of time.
“So, he's such an important player, we need him fit for the long term.”
A positive indicator of Hall’s fitness is his inclusion in the upcoming England Under-21s squad. The call-up will potentially help Hall get some much-needed minutes under his belt before returning to Newcastle.
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