Newcastle United defender ruled out for two matches after surprise move as injury blow confirmed
Newcastle United defender Jamal Lewis has withdrawn from international duty with Northern Ireland due to injury.
Lewis, who is currently on loan at Sao Paulo in Brazil, has picked up an ankle injury and has been ruled out for Northern Ireland’s Nations League matches against Belarus and Luxembourg as a result. Lewis has been a regular in the Northern Ireland set-up since his days at Norwich City, earning 39 caps in total.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has confirmed that Lewis has picked up an ankle injury that will rule him out of the next two international fixtures at least.
"Jamal Lewis came in with an ankle issue and he has left the camp,” O’Neill told BBC Sport NI. “So we have a 25-man squad and we have more than enough to get through the two games."
Lewis joined Newcastle from Norwich for £15million in 2020 but has been limited to just 36 first team appearances for the club. The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Watford before returning for pre-season.
He then completed a shock loan move to see out the final year of his contract at Newcastle in Brazil with Sao Paulo. Lewis became Sao Paulo’s first-ever British player and has since made six appearances for the club.
The Brazilian side also have an option to make the loan move permanent, effectively spelling the end of his Newcastle career.