Newcastle United's £28 million gamble provides decade long England problem

Lewis Hall has an opportunity to fix an issue that has plagued England for the last decade - that being the lack of quality at left-back.

The 20-year-old has been handed his first senior call-up after impressing in the opening months of the 2024-25 campaign with Newcastle United. The former Chelsea full-back has played 13 times for The Magpies and was expected by most to be included in Lee Carsley's final England squad.

The Everton legend will be replaced by former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel in the New Year. Carsley's final games sees England face Greece on Thursday before welcoming The Republic of Ireland to Wembley on Sunday - and Hall is likely to be handed his first cap.

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Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, John Gibson believes Hall's inclusion in the squad is well deserved.

As part of The Match Preview ahead of Newcastle's trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Gibbo said: "The boy deserves recognition - he's only 20, he should be establishing himself only in the Newcastle United team now, and all of a sudden we're talking about England.

"England's had a left back problem for years, they haven't had a good left back since Ashley Cole [who retired in 2014] was there, and because Luke Shaw is now virtually permanently injured, he's their Callum Wilson of England, and therefore the left back position is up for grabs.

"Hall is in very good form, and Lee Carsley knows him from the age groups, and has been thinking about him. His future might be rubber stamped is because Carsley has only got a couple of more games before that's the end of his session but Thomas Tuchel, who's taking over, gave Lewis Hall his debut at Chelsea,so he knows all about Lewis Hall and obviously rates him.

"So that that looks good for Lewis Hall. On paper right now, on current form, there's not a better left back in the country that's English than Lewis Hall."

You can listen to the full episode of The Match Preview by clicking here or if you'd prefer to watch it via YouTube, click here. You can get in touch with the podcast by emailing theeibwpodcast@reachplc.com.