The official reason Lewis Hall is out for Newcastle United against Nottingham Forest - this is worrying
Lewis Hall injury: Newcastle United are without Lewis Hall once again for Sunday’s match against Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle United have confirmed a fresh injury blow to defender Lewis Hall ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park (2pm kick-off).
Hall missed The Magpies’ 2-1 defeat to Arsenal last Sunday before returning on the bench in the Champions League against Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday evening. The 21-year-old was a second-half substitute as Newcastle claimed a 4-0 win in Brussels.
But he was then left out of the squad for Sunday’s match against Forest after Howe had claimed the left-back would be ‘available’ to feature, sparking concerns of a fresh injury blow.
Hall has started just two matches for Newcastle since his serious foot injury in February that required surgery and ended his 2024/25 season prematurely. His only Premier League start in that time came in the 0-0 draw at AFC Bournemouth last month.
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Lewis Hall absence explained
On Friday, Howe suggested in his pre-match press conference that Hall would be ‘available’ for the Forest match.
“Lewis has been more complex,” Howe said. “Just trying to get him to feel totally confident in his body again. He is doing well, but we need to make sure we monitor his progress.
“I'd say he'd be available [to feature v Nottingham Forest]. But Lewis had just a couple of little things in his body where he's not felt 100% right.
“So we've got to try and get him back where he's robust enough to just, as he was before his injury, he was playing regularly he looked physically great at that moment. But sometimes we forget how young he isand there is a thought that we have to look after him.
“And he will get to that stage where he's able to play fluently again, and I'm sure take the load, no problem. Even with the game schedule we have, I see a time when he can be playing all the games that he wants to play.
“Of course, a couple of things on that, he has to play well. But I think at this moment, we've just got to look after him a little bit.”
That was the situation on Friday but now The Gazette understands Hall has picked up a fresh issue in his battle to return to full fitness. The defender suffered a hamstring injury in midweek which requires further assessment and a scan with no timescale for a return given.
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Newcastle United injury list grows longer
In addition to Hall, Newcastle also have Jacob Ramsey out injured but expected to return after the October international break.