TRUST THE PLAN: NEWCASTLE RESPONDS TO LEWIS HALL INJURY JOLT
Eddie Howe explains his careful management of Lewis Hall's return from a hamstring injury. Latest news on the Newcastle defender.
Lewis Hall is back with Newcastle United after his injury, but coach Eddie Howe is playing it safe with his playing time.
Hall started his first game for Newcastle since September in their 2-1 victory over Manchester City, but was subbed out after 77 minutes for Sven Botman.
The player then sat on the bench during Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Marseille in the Champions League, only playing for 36 minutes.
Howe mentioned after the Man City game that Hall isn't quite ready for a full 90 minutes yet, as they're still monitoring his progress after a hamstring issue.
It was probably just a cramp, Howe said about Hall's substitution against Manchester City.
It wasn't a surprise since Lewis hadn't played much, and the intensity is different from England [U21]. He went away with England, compared to these games.
That's why we've been trying to get him back to full fitness. He still needs a bit more time before he can play a full game, but he played great in the minutes he had.
Newcastle's cautious approach with Hall has caused some frustration among fans, mainly because he's the only natural left-back on the team.
The team has been using Dan Burn at left-back while Hall was out. They also played with five defenders on Tuesday to make up for his absence.
Hall's hamstring injury occurred shortly after he came back from a serious knee injury last season, which kept him out of the Carabao Cup final.
However, injury expert Ben Dinnery believes Newcastle is handling Hall's recovery well and says there's no need to doubt his fitness after a couple of injuries in 2025.
He's still young, Dinnery told Esports News.
He's been coached well, and Lewis Hall was doing great before his injury in the Carabao Cup final.
He's a great player, still young, and getting used to the top level. Newcastle has managed without him by using Dan Burn at left-back, but Eddie Howe has options to rest Lewis Hall when needed. He doesn't need to play every game.
Before that injury at the end of last season, he was a pretty fit player.
I have no doubts about how the players have been managed. Eddie Howe and his staff deserve credit.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
