Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is preparing for what might be the most demanding stretch of his team’s season so far.
The schedule is about to become incredibly crowded, with the excitement of the Champions League kicking off and the beginning of their Carabao Cup defense adding many more games to an already packed Premier League calendar.
This intense period is precisely why the club worked so hard during the summer transfer window to build a deeper and more robust squad, bringing in six new senior players to share the heavy load.
This increased depth could not be more timely. One piece of particularly good news for the Magpies is the full return to fitness of young defender Lewis Hall.
The left-back has been working his way back from foot surgery that he underwent earlier this year, a setback that has kept him from starting a competitive match since last February.
For a player so young, it has been a challenging period, but the wait now appears to be over. Eddie Howe has made it clear that Hall is no longer just an option for the future; he is set to become a much more visible part of the team’s immediate plans.
Howe recently spoke to the press ahead of his team’s upcoming league match and provided a very encouraging update on Hall’s condition.
He explained that the recent international break, a time when many first-team players were away with their national teams, proved to be a major blessing for the recovering defender.
Instead of joining an international squad, Hall remained on Tyneside and was able to participate in a full and focused training block with the coaching staff.
Howe noted that the player has made significant physical progress, arriving at a much better level of conditioning than he was before the break.
The manager was full of praise for Hall’s undeniable qualities and stated plainly that the 19-year-old is going to play an important part in the team’s strategy over the coming weeks.
However, Howe also struck a note of caution, emphasizing that because Hall’s injury was a serious one, the club has a responsibility to manage his reintegration carefully.
They must be smart about his minutes to ensure his long-term health and development, especially for such a promising young talent.
The immediate question is when fans can expect to see Hall back on the pitch from the start. There is an outside possibility he could feature against Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend.
With regular starter Tino Livramento having just played a full 90 minutes for the England national team on Tuesday, a rest might be in order, potentially opening a door for Hall.
That said, it would still be a surprise, as Hall has so far been limited to only two brief substitute appearances this season.
Looking further ahead, the discussion then turns to the monumental Champions League night at St James’ Park against the Spanish powerhouse Barcelona.
While a start against Wolves might be a possibility, a starting role against Barcelona seems far less likely. This is not a comment on Hall’s ability or potential.
The reasoning is almost entirely tactical. Barcelona’s right wing is expected to be occupied by their phenomenal 18-year-old sensation, Lamine Yamal, who has quickly become one of the most feared young attackers in world football.
Yamal possesses a dangerous habit of cutting inside from the wing onto his stronger left foot, a move that requires a very specific defensive skill set to counter.
For this particular challenge, Howe will almost certainly turn to Tino Livramento. Livramento has already proven his capability in such high-stakes, one-on-one situations, most notably when he delivered a stellar performance against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
For now, Hall’s role will be built gradually, but his time is undoubtedly coming as Newcastle United navigates the thrilling and grueling months ahead.
