Hall could solve England's specialist left-back problem
The Independent|November 13, 2024
In their last 13 matches, England have only once started with a specialist left-back. Now a specialist left-back has emerged who debuted under Thomas Tuchel and who, even before the German takes charge, can benefit from the coaching of England's most-capped full-back.
RICHARD JOLLY
Hall could solve England's specialist left-back problem

If the autumn of 2023 was decidedly difficult for Lewis Hall, a year on, the stars could seem to be aligning for him.

Of the six uncapped players in Lee Carsley’s squad this month, Hall has the clearest path to a place in the team. Luke Shaw began the Euro 2024 final, but his outings have become rarities amid his injury problems. Kieran Trippier was the right-back pressed into service on the opposite flank in Germany but he has opted for international retirement.

In Carsley’s interim reign, Levi Colwill, Rico Lewis and Trent Alexander-Arnold have played out of position on the left; the Chelsea and Liverpool players have been ruled out this week’s double header against Greece and Republic of Ireland.

So Hall’s maiden call-up to the senior squad was no shock; not to the Newcastle United player himself. “I think I had a bit of feeling, purely because of the lack of out-and-out left-backs that there are,” he said. Hall, being left-footed, is an anomaly. He is also in form, his case advanced by his performance against England’s player of the year for two of the last three seasons, Bukayo Saka, when Newcastle beat Arsenal.

This story is from the November 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.

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This story is from the November 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.

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