Lewis Hall believes that he is a “completely different player” now from the one who was given his Chelsea debut by Thomas Tuchel almost three years ago.
Hall was Chelsea’s youngest-ever FA Cup starter, at 17 years and 122 days, when Tuchel picked him in the FA Cup third round against Chesterfield in January 2022. Hall, who played as a midfielder in the academy, started on the left side of Tuchel’s back three.
Now Hall is established as Newcastle United’s first choice left-back and has earned his first-ever place in an England squad for this week’s games against Greece and Republic of Ireland, the last of Lee Carsley’s mini-tenure. And Hall has a chance to establish himself in England’s problem position ahead of Tuchel taking over as the new England manager in January.
Hall, speaking at St George’s Park on Tuesday afternoon before England fly to Athens on Wednesday, is confident he has far more to his game now ahead of a potential reunion with Tuchel next year.
“I think I am a completely different player now,” Hall said, looking back at his time at Tuchel’s Chelsea. “I played left centre-half in a three in that game (against Chesterfield), which is something that is obviously different, and I had never done that before.
“I think Tuchel’s thinking was, with me being a midfielder back then, was (him) knowing I was comfortable on the ball and knowing we would have a lot of possession. I am not sure if that means anything now. Especially as I feel my game is completely different now to how it was back then.”
Tuchel gave Hall his Chelsea debut in 2022 (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Even though that was the only game Hall played for Tuchel before he was sacked in September 2022, he still has happy memories of the incoming England manager.
“I remember when I was at Chelsea, I was 17, when I first trained with the first team,” Hall said. “I remember him and his staff being really welcoming to me. They realised how big a thing it was for me as a young player. His sessions were really good, very possession-based, which was something I really enjoyed. He was a good person to me, he gave me my debut. Without that, I wouldn’t have developed confidence. So I am grateful to him for that. But right now I have just got to focus on the manager now, which is Lee.”
Since moving to Newcastle United in 2023, Hall has established himself as a left-back, despite having played in midfield in the Chelsea academy. After a slow start last season he is now an integral part of Eddie Howe’s team, starting eight of their 11 Premier League games so far this season.
And Hall knows that with a dearth of other specialist left-backs, he has an opportunity to stake his claim this week.
“I had a bit of feeling purely because of the lack of out-and-out left backs that there are in the squad,” he said of his selection. “There are a few players who can play both sides, left and right, but yes I was just thinking if I am playing well for my club that is all I can do and then the decision is in the hands of the manager. Obviously I was delighted when he selected me.”
GO DEEPER
Tuchel is wasting precious time by not taking charge of England this month
(Top photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
