Halt the Count & Board the Plane - England's Left-Back Debate is Finally Settled

Halt the Count & Board the Plane - England's Left-Back Debate is Finally Settled

With the World Cup edging ever closer, the discourse around who should be on the plane and who should be omitted from Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad is swelling to a cacophony of opinion.

Some positions are ultimately set in stone; take the centre forward position, which will inevitably be filled with the imperious Harry Kane – or Jordan Pickford, who will line up in between the sticks for the Three Lions barring a disaster.

But not every space is quite so simple to fill, with the most potent example of exactly that being the left-back spot.

Over the last year, debates have been rife about the left-hand side of defence, with (until recently) no standout candidates staking their claim as the frontrunner.

Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly and Myles Lewis-Skelly were the names that held the most weight in conversations, but none of them really felt like the answer – leaving many wondering if it would be another tournament of waiting for Luke Shaw to crawl from the depths of the physio room to fill the void.

But, in the last couple of months, that is a sentiment which has shifted drastically, with a name that many had likely forgotten about at the back end of last season coming to the fore and taking the reins at the head of the pack…

That man is Lewis Hall.

Injuries Finally Overcome

Now, it's only right of me to preface this by saying I myself am a Newcastle fan, but to be quite frank, at this point I'm adamant that you can't claim this opinion to be rooted in bias – it should be common knowledge by now.

Lewis Hall was hindered toward the back end of last season by an ankle injury that saw him miss the fairytale cup final day, a gutting circumstance for the boyhood Newcastle fan.

He then began this season with a plethora of fitness and injury concerns which kept him from consistent minutes on the hallowed turf of St James' Park for a good chunk of time.

Understandably, during this period of absence, Hall became an afterthought when it came to England squad discussions. Something which it appears Hall did not take kindly to, given the vengeful nature of his on-field performances upon return.

Return of the Hall

It wasn't until November when the left back fully rid himself of the plaguing niggles he had endured and established himself as a starter in Eddie Howe's side once again and now the cobwebs are blown off and the confidence has returned, Hall looks almost unstoppable.

Newcastle haven't been great by any stretch of the imagination; believe me, I know, but even in those moments of struggle there has been an air of bewilderment at just how good the Englishman has been.

Lewis Hall : pic.twitter.com/gBqOcEo56U

— Newcastle United FR 🇫🇷 (@NewcastleUtd_FR) January 13, 2026

Not only has it captivated the Newcastle fans, but also those of clubs all across England and likely England gaffer Thomas Tuchel as well, with everybody slowly coming round to just how brilliant he is – and the fact that he HAS to be on the plane.

Print the Boarding Pass

It's reached the point where Hall genuinely has moments reminiscent of Lionel Messi, as insane as that sounds.

It is seldom for a left back to have the composure and press resistance, in what would usually be considered vulnerable areas, that Lewis Hall is showing in the current climate.

All it takes is a mere glance at his highlights in the recently elapsed Carabao Cup semi-final against Man City, a game in which Newcastle were comfortably beaten 2-0 by the way, and his ball retention abilities are abundantly apparent.

Lewis Hall’s first half performance🔥 England’s best left back pic.twitter.com/IRJfSCfIvy

— Buzztalksball (@buzztalksball) January 13, 2026

And no, don't worry, those qualities don't take away from his defensive abilities, with Hall's 1vs1 defending and structural play also a big factor in why he is rated so highly.

All of these qualities make him an outstanding footballer already, and at just 21 years old, it's almost frightening to think what he could become with more years of development.

**Tuchel, Are You Seeing This?

Interestingly enough, Tuchel actually gave Lewis Hall his professional debut when he was at Chelsea, but even if there was an absence of connection between the two entirely, there's no way Tuchel can ignore this current form.

When comparing Hall to the other options, he has frankly had a better season than all of them.

The only real competitor for whom a claim can be made is Nico O'Reilly, but even he isn't putting in the level of performance that can match Lewis Hall week in and week out.

When you consider the liking Tuchel has taken to Hall's teammate Anthony Gordon, who granted hasn't had the greatest season but still appears a part of the England gaffer's plans, he becomes an even more obvious choice, as there is already a partnership formed down the left flank.

Of course the tournament isn't quite upon us, and Hall may well not continue his form to the unfathomable standard he has reached of late, but anything close to that level and Hall could be a massive difference maker for England.

Basically, whichever way you look at it, there is only one outcome which makes plausible sense – Lewis Hall has to be on the plane to the Americas; there is absolutely no debate.