Lewis Hall says he is using the pain of World Cup rejection as fuel this season. The Newcastle left-back has started the campaign in great form for his club and that earned him an instant recall from Thomas Tuchel after he missed out in the summer.
Hall has signed a new deal at Newcastle, looks in great shape and wants to make the England left-back slot his own. When asked whether the World Cup heartbreak acts as fuel, Hall said: "Yeah, I think it's important to use that. Obviously, you don't want to get too worked up on it and too down about it, because that can also come across quite negative.
Healthy competition
"So, I'm using that frustration and I think anyone who was not in the squad is going to be disappointed. I think everyone will be doing the same to try and get themselves back on the squad.
"Whenever you're in the squad, ultimately you've got the shirt, you've got to do what you can to keep it. When you're not in the squad, you've got to do what you can to try and take it off other people.
"I think that's what everyone describes as healthy competition, and that's important to pushing the team forward and the nation forward. I think that gets the best out of players. I think I'm in the squad now, and it's my job to make sure I stay in the squad.
Taking chances
"I think that's what football is about. It's all about your chances. I think in order to get where you want to be, you're going to get chances to impress, and as long as you take these chances, I think you can create whatever you want to create, really. So, yeah, I'm in the squad now, which I'm really grateful for. When I do get an opportunity, I'm hoping that I can take it."
Hall looks set to get it against Czech Republic as Nico O'Reilly is an injury doubt and he is determined to impress Tuchel, who gave him his debut at Chelsea. Remarkably, Hall even said he had sympathy for Tuchel when he called him to say he was not in the squad. He did not want to even discuss that phone call. But despite missing out, Hall said he watched all the games at the World Cup.
Keeping the relationship private
He added: "I think for me, it's important that we keep that relationship just between me and him with what he said and what we discussed. But he knew that I was going be disappointed, and it wasn't only me, he would have spoken to a lot of people in the summer who would have been disappointed.
"And as much as it's not a nice phone call for me to receive, I know it's obviously tough for him, because he knows that it's a dream for everyone to play in a World Cup. So I'm not going to discuss what we said."
Hall was born on September 8, 2004, which was the day of an England game when they won in Poland. Maybe that is a good omen. He added: "I did not know that. I was born in the afternoon, I think, four o'clock in the afternoon. Just before kick-off. Maybe I was a lucky charm."
