‘England have got to take a gamble’ – Thomas Tuchel’s solution to long-standing problem is staring him in the face
One of the major issues Thomas Tuchel has to solve as England manager is who will play left-back, and the solution is staring him in the face. Luke Shaw has been the long-time preferred option on that side, but his fitness issues are crippling his career, while Ben Chilwell has been cast out into the cold by Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. Hall has been Newcastle’s most consistent player this season Interim Three Lions manager Lee Carsley has deployed Levi Colwill, Rico Lewis and even Trent Alexander-Arnold there. However, neither of these are natural left-backs. During Euro 2024, Kieran Trippier played there for England, and the balance of the team looked off, so it’s a position that is up for grabs. And Newcastle United‘s Lewis Hall may well be the solution. Hall is into his first season as a permanent Toon player after joining his boyhood club from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 on loan with an obligation to buy. That deal was made permanent earlier this year for an initial £28million, which was a lot for a pretty unproven teenager, but the talent was clear for all to see. His first year on Tyneside perhaps didn’t go how he envisioned. In truth, he probably wasn’t ready to be Newcastle’s left-back, as his one Champions League appearance for them showed. Due to a huge swathe of injuries, Eddie Howe started Hall against Borussia Dortmund away, and he looked lost before being hooked at half-time in a 2-0 defeat. The left-back admitted later on in the year that he had needed time to work on his game. Fast forward a year, and we are looking at a hugely improved player who has now nailed his place as the Toon’s left-back. The next step for Hall is now England. Certainly, that is the view of Three Lions icon Stuart Pearce. Hall was magnificent in Newcastle’s recent win over Arsenal Lewis Hall 2024/25 stats Games played – ten Minutes played – 696 Assists – one Chances created – 13 Big chances created – three Passes – 446 Pass accuracy – 83 per cent Tackles – 16 Interceptions – seven Possession won – 40 Duels won – 34 Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com after watching Hall keep Bukayo Saka quiet in Newcastle’s win over Arsenal, Pearce was full of praise for the 20-year-old. He said: “I think the fact he’s a natural left-footer [helps]. “They’ve put right-footed left-backs in there in recent years. “Having watched him today and bearing in mind who he was up against – Saka – who, if you show any form of weakness, exploits it. “I think he dealt with him brilliantly. From a defensive point of view, I thought he was outstanding and showed real maturity. “He’s playing regularly for Newcastle, and it would be more of a surprise if he wasn’t in the team, than if he was. “He gives natural balance. Some of the players who’ve played left-back have either not offered us enough going forward or defensively, being frail. “He ticks a lot of boxes. He’s playing regularly for one of the top sides in the Premier League, and I would fully expect him to be in the squad.” Tuchel’s long-term left-back solution is waiting for his chance Clearly, England have been listening to Pearce because talkSPORT understands that Hall is in contention for a first senior call-up. Carsley has been tracking the left-back for a while and has been impressed with him this season. One thing that makes Hall stand out from others is his technical ability. He started his career as a central midfielder, so he’s more than comfortable coming inside with the ball, while his crossing is also devastating, as he proved recently with a great delivery for Alexander Isak to score against Chelsea. With the World Cup coming up in less than two years, England need a technically proficient left-back, and talkSPORT’s lead football commentator Sam Matterface thinks he could be the man they turn to. He said: “I think that Lewis has got the potential to be an England left-back. “He’s obviously a talent, there is no doubt about that. “England have got to take a gamble on someone who isn’t the finished product because they don’t have a player that fits into that role at this moment in time. “They need to promote someone, and there is no reason that couldn’t be Lewis Hall because he’s been well-schooled at Chelsea’s academy, and he’s got first-team football with Newcastle. “He’s played in every single game this season, and he’s someone Howe trusts, and Howe can spot a defender. “And the fact he trusts him, means I can’t see any reason why Tuchel won’t.” Tuchel doesn’t start work until January 2025, so Carlsey has two more games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League. That means he has one more squad to pick, and choosing Hall is a no-brainer.
One of the major issues Thomas Tuchel has to solve as England manager is who will play left-back, and the solution is staring him in the face.
Luke Shaw has been the long-time preferred option on that side, but his fitness issues are crippling his career, while Ben Chilwell has been cast out into the cold by Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.
Interim Three Lions manager Lee Carsley has deployed Levi Colwill, Rico Lewis and even Trent Alexander-Arnold there.
However, neither of these are natural left-backs.
During Euro 2024, Kieran Trippier played there for England, and the balance of the team looked off, so it’s a position that is up for grabs.
And Newcastle United‘s Lewis Hall may well be the solution.
Hall is into his first season as a permanent Toon player after joining his boyhood club from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 on loan with an obligation to buy.
That deal was made permanent earlier this year for an initial £28million, which was a lot for a pretty unproven teenager, but the talent was clear for all to see.
His first year on Tyneside perhaps didn’t go how he envisioned.
In truth, he probably wasn’t ready to be Newcastle’s left-back, as his one Champions League appearance for them showed.
Due to a huge swathe of injuries, Eddie Howe started Hall against Borussia Dortmund away, and he looked lost before being hooked at half-time in a 2-0 defeat.
The left-back admitted later on in the year that he had needed time to work on his game.
Fast forward a year, and we are looking at a hugely improved player who has now nailed his place as the Toon’s left-back.
The next step for Hall is now England.
Certainly, that is the view of Three Lions icon Stuart Pearce.
Lewis Hall 2024/25 stats
Games played – ten
Minutes played – 696
Assists – one
Chances created – 13
Big chances created – three
Passes – 446
Pass accuracy – 83 per cent
Tackles – 16
Interceptions – seven
Possession won – 40
Duels won – 34
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com after watching Hall keep Bukayo Saka quiet in Newcastle’s win over Arsenal, Pearce was full of praise for the 20-year-old.
He said: “I think the fact he’s a natural left-footer [helps].
“They’ve put right-footed left-backs in there in recent years.
“Having watched him today and bearing in mind who he was up against – Saka – who, if you show any form of weakness, exploits it.
“I think he dealt with him brilliantly. From a defensive point of view, I thought he was outstanding and showed real maturity.
“He’s playing regularly for Newcastle, and it would be more of a surprise if he wasn’t in the team, than if he was.
“He gives natural balance. Some of the players who’ve played left-back have either not offered us enough going forward or defensively, being frail.
“He ticks a lot of boxes. He’s playing regularly for one of the top sides in the Premier League, and I would fully expect him to be in the squad.”
Clearly, England have been listening to Pearce because talkSPORT understands that Hall is in contention for a first senior call-up.
Carsley has been tracking the left-back for a while and has been impressed with him this season.
One thing that makes Hall stand out from others is his technical ability.
He started his career as a central midfielder, so he’s more than comfortable coming inside with the ball, while his crossing is also devastating, as he proved recently with a great delivery for Alexander Isak to score against Chelsea.
With the World Cup coming up in less than two years, England need a technically proficient left-back, and talkSPORT’s lead football commentator Sam Matterface thinks he could be the man they turn to.
He said: “I think that Lewis has got the potential to be an England left-back.
“He’s obviously a talent, there is no doubt about that.
“England have got to take a gamble on someone who isn’t the finished product because they don’t have a player that fits into that role at this moment in time.
“They need to promote someone, and there is no reason that couldn’t be Lewis Hall because he’s been well-schooled at Chelsea’s academy, and he’s got first-team football with Newcastle.
“He’s played in every single game this season, and he’s someone Howe trusts, and Howe can spot a defender.
“And the fact he trusts him, means I can’t see any reason why Tuchel won’t.”
Tuchel doesn’t start work until January 2025, so Carlsey has two more games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League.
That means he has one more squad to pick, and choosing Hall is a no-brainer.
