Where Newcastle United star can get even better as ex-Chelsea boss reveals key strength

It's already been a season to remember for Newcastle United youngster Lewis Hall. Not only has the former Chelsea defender finally nailed down a regular place in Eddie Howe's staring XI, but the 20-year-old has earned his first call up to the full England squad.

It's only been two years since he was handed his Premier League debut - ironically against Newcastle United, in November 2022 - but the left-back has made huge strides since then, justifying the Magpies' decision to pay Chelsea around £35m to bring him to Tyneside.

Graham Potter was the man who gave him his first start for the Blues, and watched on as he put in another impressive performance in Sunday's 3-1 win over Nottingam Forest, before joining up with the England squad. Potter has been delighted with his progress, but feels there is even more to come from Hall - and pinpointed where Eddie Howe will be working closely with the youngster.

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“Well, he is a really strong physical specimen," Potter told Sky Sports. "He has got the physicality to sprint up and down the pitch. He has a great left foot and courage on the ball.

"The challenge for him, and I think Eddie Howe has alluded to this in the interviews, is just knowing how to defend in a four, especially in a back four. That has probably been the bit he has to improve. He is a quiet lad, doesn’t say too much, so very insular, but very determined and, at the same time, wants to help his team-mates. He is a good person - a good kid.”

After alternating with Lloyd Kelly in the first part of the season, Hall has now started the last seven games in all competitions, setting up Alexander Isak's goal in the recent 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge. Howe has been keen to stay patient over Hall's development, with Newcastle now reaping the rewards.

"Patience is something you need and I know that as a father, when you're with your kids and whatever you're trying to help them with, whether it's maths or whatever subject or part of their life, you can get frustrated and impatient with their development," he said. "You need to sometimes just be calm and let them develop in their own way.

"We always try to push the players and try to help them, and Lewis is a really good case in point for us now to point to in the future. It was the same with Anthony [Gordon]. You go through a period with every player and you can never look at one case and go 'that's how long it will take you'. It's all unique to the individual. But Lewis really committed to the work and now he's reaping the rewards."