Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall has been handed back to the Magpies after a successful UEFA Nations League series this autumn, and his form has left manager Matthias Jaissle with a selection headache over Dan Burn's return.
The former Chelsea youngster wrapped up a solid international window with his third appearance in the space of a week and weighed in with an assist to set up Harry Kane for England's third as he crashed a header past Lukas Hornicek. It continued a fine start to the season for the youngster who has banished his woes from the end of the last campaign.
Burn's return and the left-back dilemma
Dan Burn is edging closer to a return after declaring he would be back after the current international series following a summer ankle injury. Last season, Burn was picked at left-back ahead of Hall towards the end of the season in a move from Eddie Howe that some fans felt cost the 22-year-old a place at the World Cup.
But new boss Matthias Jaissle can't even dream of replacing Hall with Burn at left-back as he returns from injury, meaning a major decision must be made in the heart of defence when Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman have forged a partnership.
International rivalry and competition
Burn, who is still part of England's plans, will also be in a grapple at international level to edge back into Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions side after missing out through injury this month with Hall now a major rival for club and country in some respects.
When asked about competition for places after England's resounding 3-0 win over Czechia, Tuchel said last night at Wembley: "This is how it should be. I think we've got some more options and it is important after a big tournament and building something for of course the bigger picture - the Euros - but still worshipping the competition in which we play now because we want to complete the full cycle.
"We started very ambitious in this competition so that's the balance that we have to get right and after a big tournament, it is always important to move forward and bring in fresh players, fresh blood and force new competition."
"That's what we have now. It is always about the players in camp. The players made a very special camp again and the competition is on."
Jaissle's options ahead of Coventry clash
But that rich competition for places is now a headache for Jaissle, albeit a welcome one given how many injuries he has suffered at the start of his reign on Tyneside. With Hall in sparkling form and Burn nudging closer, it feels like a straight call to either put the Blyth man back in at the heart of defence ahead of Botman, who has been up and down this season, or start cautiously with the 6ft 7in star and offer him a cameo role from the bench against Coventry on Monday night and go from there.
Either way, the prospect of Hall taking a place on the bench, which was the case just a few months ago, seems close to impossible these days. Jaissle said before the break: "I am in love with what I have seen so far, he is an amazing player. He fits in so good to how we want to play football."
With Hall an automatic choice, somebody from Jaissle's defensive ranks is going to be disappointed ahead of the clash with the Sky Blues next week.
