Eddie Howe says 20-year-old was 'a great bit of business' ahead of huge game against old club

 · October 26 2024, 10:36
Eddie Howe says 20-year-old was 'a great bit of business' ahead of huge game against old club
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Newcastle United take on Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge in the first of back-to-back games against the Blues.

The two sides meet in the Premier League in London on Sunday and then in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday under the lights at St James' Park.

The Magpies have a couple of young, former Chelsea players who will be hoping to make their mark against their old club.

While Tino Livramento has faced Chelsea already as a Newcastle player, Lewis Hall is yet to have the privilege as he was unable to face his old club last year while he was on loan.

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Lewis Hall will get the chance to face his old club

Now that Hall's move has been made permanent after the £28 million deal was concluded in the summer, the lifelong Newcastle fan is free to line up against his former employers.

Eddie Howe spoke about Hall in his Friday morning press-conference, praising him for his development over his time at the club and hailing him as a 'great bit of business'.

“The thing with Lewis when we were looking at that deal was the lack of equal players in that position.

“We took an opportunity to sign a young player who we knew would be growing and developing into the player he was going to become. And we wanted to grab that opportunity while we had it. We felt if we waited then it would possibly move beyond us.

“He took time to develop, as all young players do. He was so young when he came to us initially.

“But the growth in him at the back end of last season and the development in his game this season has been really strong. I’ve been really pleased with the way he’s played in the last few games. He’s adding layers and different strengths to his game. I can only see that improving, so I think it’s a great bit of business by us.”
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Lewis Hall had to be patient to break into the first team

It did take a while for Hall to earn Eddie Howe's trust while Newcastle fans were champing at the bit to see him in action after seeing flashes of brilliance from him in a Chelsea shirt.

In hindsight it was probably for the best that Howe made him, and indeed, us, wait as towards the end of last season he was used often and offered us something different that kept the opposition on their toes.

It's now on Hall to mark that left-back spot as his own and a top performance against Chelsea will go a long way towards doing that.

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