Hall could solve England's specialist left-back problem

In their last 13 matches, England have only once started with a specialist left-back. Now a specialist left-back has emerged who debuted under Thomas Tuchel and who, even before the German takes charge, can benefit from the coaching of England's most-capped full-back.

- RICHARD JOLLY

If the autumn of 2023 was decidedly difficult for Lewis Hall, a year on, the stars could seem to be aligning for him.

Of the six uncapped players in Lee Carsley’s squad this month, Hall has the clearest path to a place in the team. Luke Shaw began the Euro 2024 final, but his outings have become rarities amid his injury problems. Kieran Trippier was the right-back pressed into service on the opposite flank in Germany but he has opted for international retirement.

In Carsley’s interim reign, Levi Colwill, Rico Lewis and Trent Alexander-Arnold have played out of position on the left; the Chelsea and Liverpool players have been ruled out this week’s double header against Greece and Republic of Ireland.

So Hall’s maiden call-up to the senior squad was no shock; not to the Newcastle United player himself. “I think I had a bit of feeling, purely because of the lack of out-and-out left-backs that there are,” he said. Hall, being left-footed, is an anomaly. He is also in form, his case advanced by his performance against England’s player of the year for two of the last three seasons, Bukayo Saka, when Newcastle beat Arsenal.