Lewis Hall says self-belief got him through tough times at Newcastle United after his big-money move from Cheslea
Newcastle United full-back Lewis Hall is probably the first name on the teamsheet these days, but that was far from the case when he first arrived on Tyneside from Chelsea.
Lewis Hall arrived at Newcastle on loan from Chelsea with an obligation to buy for £28 million, rising to £32 million if certain criteria were met. He arrived amid a ton of promise, but Newcastle fans had to wait a long time to see him in action for the first team.
His appearances were sporadic to say the least until near the end of the season, when injuries forced Eddie Howe to call on him more often.
Fans speculated that Howe didn't fancy Hall and felt that he wasn't the right fit for his style, but it turned out he was just biding his time, working on him in the background, and all of that work has paid off massively.
Lewis Hall had to be patient when he arrived at Newcastle United
It wasn't a fun time for Hall, but in hindsight, it was absolutely the right thing to do, and Hall has once again acknowledged those days when speaking to the media ahead of the meeting with Barcelona tomorrow.
"I have been through a journey here. When I first signed was a difficult period. It was a significant fee for the amount of football I played and I knew the pressure that came with that. But I always believed in my ability, stayed strong and that put me in a good position last season which was the turning point for me as a player and a person.
"Having to deal with my injury made me more motivated this season so now to be playing in the round of 16 in the Champions League is a massive deal for me.
"JT (Jason Tindall), the gaffer, all the coaches and my team-mates as well have all helped me. They have helped me defensively which was a big area of the game I needed to improve. I am 21, still young and as a team this year we haven't defended the way we would have liked to this season."
Lewis Hall is now many pundits' first choice for the England left-back role
Hall is now expected to be part of England's World Cup squad, with many pundits saying that he should be the first choice for left-back for the Three Lions.
You won't hear any disagreements from us. We think Hall has been sensational for Newcastle this season. He has worked hard on being a better defender, but he's one of the few players in the side who is always looking to move forward rather than sideways and backwards.
Lewis Hall's journey is exactly why we're loath to write off Anthony Elanga and especially Nick Woltemade. With the right time in training and plenty of hard work, Eddie Howe can make a player out of anyone.
