Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has labelled summer signing Lewis Hall a "talented player" and has no doubt that "the best of him is yet to come" as he continues to settle into life at St James' Park.
Hall completed a season-long loan move to the Magpies from Chelsea in August, which includes an obligation to make the transfer permanent in the summer of 2024 based on performance-related criteria.
The 18-year-old, a boyhood Newcastle fan, spent 11 years at Chelsea and made his senior debut in January 2022 before featuring 11 times for the first team in all competitions last season.
Hall has since had to settle for a peripheral role at Newcastle this term and has featured just twice under Howe, making his debut as a late substitute in the 8-0 Premier League win at Sheffield United in September, three days before starting the 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the EFL Cup third round.
The England Under-21 international is in contention to feature for the Magpies in Wednesday's EFL Cup fourth-round tie at Manchester United – a repeat of last season's final – and ahead of the match, Howe has praised the youngster since his arrival at the club.
"He's a talented player," Howe said at a press conference on Tuesday. "He can play various positions for us, which in our current position we are going to need. Lewis has been training well.
"He's been adapting to quite a big change in his life so for such a young player to move from London and settle in here, I think he's done it well. The best of him is yet to come, without a doubt.
"When you get an opportunity you have to take it, and Lewis has done that. His performance against Manchester City was very good, he's a player we really like."
Hall's versatility could come in handy for Howe at a time when Newcastle are having to cope with a number of injury absentees during a busy fixture schedule.
Indeed, the Magpies boss has confirmed that both Alexander Isak and Sven Botman remain sidelined with respective groin and knee injuries, while Harvey Barnes (ankle), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back) and Lewis Miley (illness) are also in the treatment room.
Hall is competent operating up and down the left flank as either a left-back or left-winger, and he could be handed a start in either position against Man United on Wednesday.
Should first-choice left-back Dan Burn be given a rest against the Red Devils, Hall will likely compete with Matt Targett and Paul Dummett for a start in defence.
The absence of Isak, Barnes and Murphy, meanwhile, leaves Newcastle light in attack, meaning that Hall could also feature on the wing, most likely battling with Anthony Gordon and possibly Joelinton for a start on the left.
