'I've got to say': Lewis Hall is doing all the right things to impress England's most famous left-back

Ashley Cole is arguably England's best-ever left-back but even he can't hold a candle to the infamy surrounding former Newcastle United player Stuart Pearce.

Nicknamed Psyho, Pearce had a 12-year international career amassing 78 caps for his country. He famously missed a critical penalty in Italia 90 in the semi-final against Germany, but when the opportunity presented itself again years later, Pearce didn't hesitate to step up and after despatching his penalty with aplomb delivered one of the most enduring images of Euro 96 with his emphatic celebration.

It's safe to say then, that Pearce knows what he's talking about when it comes to playing at left-back for England and it seems he has taken quite a shine to Newcastle's Lewis Hall, as have so many pundits.

Pearce was speaking at Shefford Sports Ground, home of Shefford Town and Campton, where he helped launch the FA's 'Greener Game' campaign where he starting lavishing Hall with praise as reported by The Chronicle.

Getty Images

Stuart Pearce is backing Lewis Hall to become an England great

While Pearce believes Luke Shaw is probably still England's first-choice when fit, he definitely sees the future in Lewis Hall.

“I still feel as though if everyone’s fit, Luke Shaw is the standout England left-back but I’ve got to say, I was at Newcastle a few Saturdays ago and watched them play Arsenal and Lewis dealt with [Bukayo] Saka extremely well.

“I probably knew at that stage he’d be in the England squad as a natural left-sided player. I’ve been barking on about it but I think at left back and right back, we need natural players that are left and right footed.

“I’m not sure it works having a right-footed left back. I’ve seen it many times before and Kieran Trippier’s done it OK, but you’re missing that attacking option in the last third and that’s too critical to miss out.

“I think Lewis has done pretty well coming on the pitch at Greece and I think anybody that plays in the top echelons of the Premier League can handle international football without a problem. He looks like a player that’s improving all the time, he’s working with a top coach in Eddie Howe at Newcastle and he’ll only get better.”

Lewis Hall still had Bukayo Saka in his pocket when they arrived for England training

Lewis Hall had to let Saka out of his pocket after the Arsenal game so that he could train with England and we'd like to think that Hall didn't let him forget who won that battle while they were on the training pitch.

Hall still has a couple of spots in his game to work on which is why we'd reluctantly agree that Shaw is still probably ahead of him in the England pecking order, but that's not going to last too much longer.

The 20-year-old has a habit of being the standout player when all around him are struggling lately. He was the bright spot for England in the dire first half against Ireland, and he was one of the better players against West Ham on Monday for Newcastle. The lad is going places.