Newcastle United's Lewis Hall has broken his silence on being left out of England's 2026 World Cup squad, admitting he was gutted by the omission. The 21-year-old has been recalled to the national team for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, giving him a fresh chance to impress manager Gareth Southgate. Hall was overlooked for the tournament in favour of Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly and Tottenham's Djed Spence, despite having earned four senior caps.
"Yeah, I was gutted," Hall said. "It's never easy to miss out on something like that, especially a World Cup." The left-back's reaction comes as he looks to cement his place in Southgate's plans for the next major tournament cycle.
Hall's club form for Newcastle has provided a strong case for his inclusion. He scored in the Magpies' last Premier League outing, a 2-1 home win over Hull City on September 19th. Harvey Barnes provided the assist for Hall's seventh-minute strike, which followed an early opener from Joe Willock. That victory helped Eddie Howe's side climb to ninth in the table with eight points from their first five matches. The team's current form is detailed in our latest stats analysis.
Proving his worth
His performance against Hull was part of a positive recent spell for the defender, who also impressed in a Champions League encounter against Barcelona's Lamine Yamal earlier in the season. With Newcastle's goal difference perfectly balanced at nine scored and nine conceded, defensive solidity remains a focus. Hall's ability to contribute at both ends is a valuable asset as the team aims to close a seven-point gap to league leaders Manchester City, a challenge reflected in the current standings.
The immediate opportunity for redemption arrives with England's Nations League schedule. Hall is in the squad for matches against Spain, Croatia and a double-header against Czechia over the next two weeks. These games represent a direct platform for him to demonstrate the quality that saw him left out of the World Cup party.
Back at club level, Newcastle will hope Hall returns from international duty in good shape for a busy period. The squad is currently without several players including Anthony Elanga, Joelinton and William Osula. Hall's next club assignment is an away match against 18th-placed Coventry City on October 12th. His England recall is set for the Nations League fixtures beginning later this week.
The original report is at Chronicle Live
