Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall was controversially left out of England’s World Cup squad.
Hall was included in Thomas Tuchel’s last squad before the World Cup in March, featuring in both friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan, but didn’t make the final cut for the tournament in North America.
The 21-year-old was one of the Magpies’ standout players last season and gained international praise for keeping Lamine Yamal quiet in Newcastle’s Champions League last 16 first-leg draw with Barcelona at St James’ Park.
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Gary Lineker can’t believe Lewis Hall’s England omission
However, Tuchel surprisingly overlooked Hall, naming Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly and Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence ahead of him. The squad was announced last month but Lineker is still struggling to get his head around Hall’s omission.
“I think the best left-back has not been picked: Lewis Hall,” he told the Rest is Football Podcast. “It’s fair to say at this point we would all pick different squads, it’s one person’s opinion and that’s what counts. But there are certain players in there that I think have been hard done by, Lewis Hall for me.
“He talks about Djed Spence because he is the quickest and he can play on that side as well and chase back. Did he see Lewis Hall against Yamal? He didn’t give him a kick. He’s been really unlucky. Elsewhere, I think Harry Maguire would have been another one possibly.”
Lewis Hall exit story – Newcastle United strongly deny
Hall was dropped for matches against Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion before returning to the starting XI as a right-back away to Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle sources have strongly played down suggestions of a fallout between Howe and Hall. Since arriving from Chelsea, initially on loan three years ago, Howe has helped transform Hall into one of the Premier League’s best left-backs, whilst also making four appearances for England in that time.