Newcastle defender ruled out for eight matches as Lewis Hall separated from main squad
The return of the UEFA Champions League brings a mix of excitement and tough choices for any club, and for Newcastle United, this season’s revamped competition is no different.
Manager Eddie Howe has been faced with the difficult task of selecting a 25-man squad for the league phase, a process that requires careful balancing of experience, talent, and strict registration rules.
In making these decisions, one of the most notable omissions is that of defender and former club captain, Jamaal Lascelles.
Lascelles, who is still working his way back to full fitness after a serious ACL injury suffered over a year ago, has been left out of the squad for the group stage.
This means he will be unavailable for all eight of Newcastle’s matches against the likes of FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayer Leverkusen. While he has been a respected figure in the dressing room and a leader on the pitch, the reality of his current physical condition and the need to prioritize fully fit players meant that this was a practical, if tough, decision.
Instead, the central defensive duties will fall to Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, and new signing Malick Thiaw, with Emil Krafth offering additional cover.
On a more positive note, two of the club’s most promising young talents—Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley—have been included, though not in the main senior squad.
Instead, they have been registered on what UEFA calls the “B List.” This is a special designation that allows clubs to name an unlimited number of eligible young players without using up one of the precious 25 slots in the primary squad.
To qualify, a player must have been born on or after January 1, 2004. Both Hall and Miley meet this age requirement, making them perfect candidates for this list.
The “B List” offers clubs valuable flexibility. It means that these young players can be called upon at any time during the Champions League campaign without the need for a formal squad amendment before each match, as long as the registration is submitted by the deadline.
This is especially useful for nurturing emerging talent while maintaining a strong and experienced core in the main squad.
UEFA’s squad rules also emphasize the importance of developing homegrown players. Each club’s 25-man “List A” must include at least eight players who are “locally trained,” which is further broken down into “club-trained” and “association-trained” players.
“Club-trained” means the player spent at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21 at Newcastle, while “association-trained” refers to players developed in England, though not necessarily at Newcastle. This rule encourages clubs to invest in their academies and promote domestic talent.
A common question among supporters is whether the Champions League squad can be changed later in the season. The answer is yes.
Once the league phase concludes and before the knockout rounds begin, clubs are permitted to register up to three new eligible players for the remainder of the competition.
This means that if Newcastle progress to the next stage, they could potentially reinstate a player like Lascelles—provided he has regained full match fitness and form—or even add a new signing in the January window.
This kind of mid-season adjustment is not unusual; last season, for example, Chelsea omitted Cole Palmer from their initial UEFA Conference League squad only to include him later for the knockout phase.
For now, Eddie Howe and his staff have opted for a blend of experience and youth, with an eye on both the present challenges and future opportunities.
While the exclusion of a leader like Lascelles is undoubtedly a setback, the inclusion of exciting prospects like Hall and Miley signals a belief in the club’s developing talent.
As the Champions League campaign unfolds, this squad will be tested against Europe’s best, and how these choices play out could very well shape Newcastle’s journey on the continent.