Eddie Howe is keen not to overhype Lewis Hall too much despite admitting the youngster is playing his best football at Newcastle United right now.
Newcastle United’s signing of Lewis Hall from Chelsea has turned out to be a masterful piece of business by the club - but it didn’t always look that way.
The Magpies signed Hall on an initial loan deal from Chelsea in 2023 with an obligation to buy the player for £28million.
During Hall’s loan spell, the significant fee loomed over the club as he struggled for regular football. From August to April, the young left-back was limited to just one Premier League start before finally breaking into the starting line-up at the end of the season.
Since then, Hall hasn’t looked back and, despite a major injury last season, has continued to prove himself as one of the best young left-backs around.
The 21-year-old’s performance up against Lamine Yamal during Newcastle’s 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League saw him grab plenty of plaudits and be labelled England’s best left-back heading into the 2026 World Cup. Hall has only been capped twice by England at senior level but will be hoping to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming international break.
But first, he faces a crucial run of fixtures at Newcastle - starting with his former club Chelsea on Saturday (5:30pm kick-off).
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Eddie Howe delighted with ‘really smart’ business by NUFC
Reflecting on Hall’s move from Chelsea to Newcastle, head coach Eddie Howe said: “It was a really smart piece of business by us to acquire Lewis when we did. And it was always with a longer-term view.
“We knew he wouldn't come straight into the team. We wanted to bring someone in that we feel could develop into that position. You never quite know how it's going to go.
“I know he had a really tough first year to do a lot of work behind the scenes. In that time, he had to really show mental strength and patience and commit to his development. He's reaped the benefits from that season onwards, really, where he's grabbed his chance in the team and he's playing again.”
Since returning from a lengthy injury absence, Hall has regained his fitness and re-established himself as one of the leading left-backs in the Premier League this season.
“He’s probably one of those players I'd say is playing his best football currently,” Howe added. “I think there's loads more to come from him.
“I think there's still areas of his game to focus on and improve. But he's got a lot of strengths that not many players in that position would have. And that's what makes him stand out and catch the eye.”
Hall’s form has seen him subject to transfer interest from some top clubs, including Manchester United. But Newcastle are looking to tie the defender down to a new long-term deal.
When asked about a new contract for Hall, Howe responded: “We hope that he can continue to stay here for a long time.”
Eddie Howe cautious over Lewis Hall praise
Howe is also determined to ‘protect’ one of Newcastle’s most important assets and quickly played down comparisons with AC Milan and Italy legend, Paolo Maldini - widely considered one of the greatest left-backs of all time.
“I would urge a little bit of caution, because I want to protect Lewis,” Howe continued. “I want to give him all the praise and the credit that he deserves, but he's got to continue on that path. The best way to do that is to keep him, especially for a defender, on the low. But you've just killed that [by calling him the Slough Maldini]!”
In the space of two years, Hall has gone from a 19-year-old struggling to break into the side to one of the best in his position at 21.
“He's done it through a lot of hard work,” Howe said. “Obviously, he has to have the talent in the first place, and credit to all his coaches at Chelsea that would have put hours of development into him, I'm sure.
“But credit to the player himself for how he's worked. Especially in his time here, he's worked tirelessly with Jason Tindall, who focuses more on the defensive players and the defending principles that we work towards.
“He's done a lot of work on the basics of defending. They’ve been out there, and they were out there in his first year for hours and hours. I think Lewis deserves the credit for committing to that because it's one thing putting it on for him, but he has to commit, he has to want to do it, and he has to see the need to do it.
“Then he's got these attributes, some natural, some coached, that make him stand out. His low centre of gravity, his ball manipulation in tight areas. I still think his product in his final ball can improve and we're working on that with him now, because I'd love to see him make more assists and more goal contributions, but he can do a little bit of everything.
“He can cross the ball, he can shoot from distance. But he's got to stay very level and very focused because the game can turn very quickly and, of course, there's a second leg [against Barcelona] to navigate as well. So, he's got to focus on that.”
Following the Chelsea match, Newcastle face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash. After that they host Sunderland at St James’ Park in the final match before the match international break where Hall will be hoping to return to the England set-up ahead of the World Cup.
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