Lewis Hall is in line for his first start of the season for Newcastle United this weekend. The £35m defender is expected to be called upon after the club confirmed a triple injury blow ahead of the Hull City fixture.

Eddie Howe, the manager, confirmed Anthony Elanga, Dan Burn and William Osula will all miss the game. Elanga and Osula are sidelined with muscle strains, while Burn is dealing with a knee issue. Their absences open the door for Hall, who has made three substitute appearances this term.

"We've been managing his load carefully, but he's ready now," Howe said of the 21-year-old. "He gives us a different dynamic on that left side." Hall's potential inclusion comes as Newcastle look to bounce back from a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Leeds last Saturday. That result left the Magpies 12th in the Premier League with five points from four games. The team's current league position can be tracked on the standings page.

Squad depth tested

The injuries add to a significant list of unavailable players. Joelinton, Ewen Jaouen and Jacob Ramsey remain sidelined, meaning Howe's options are stretched. The manager will likely have to rely on his squad's depth, with Hall's versatility across defence and midfield a key asset. Newcastle's recent form shows three wins, one draw and one loss in their last five matches across all competitions. With a goal of 75 points for the season, the team is currently averaging 1.25 points per game and is 70 points short of that target. The next fixture is a home game against Hull City on Saturday, 19 September at St James' Park.

Their next challenge is a home game against high-flying Hull City, who sit fourth in the table. The Magpies have scored seven goals but conceded eight in the league so far, leaving them with a negative goal difference.

Howe's side will need to be more resilient at the back, a task that may now fall to Hall. The defender joined from Chelsea last summer and has been gradually integrated into the first-team setup. His first start of the campaign is scheduled for Saturday, 19 September at St James' Park.