Newcastle United legend Rob Lee has expressed his astonishment at Lewis Hall's omission from Thomas Tuchel's final England squad for the United States, warning that the decision may come back to haunt the national team. Hall, who joined Newcastle from Chelsea last summer, was widely expected to be named alongside teammates Dan Burn and Tino Livramento, but Livramento's calf injury forced him to return home early, leaving Tuchel with fewer options.
Lee's Verdict on Hall
Lee told Chronicle Live: "Lewis Hall and Nico O'Reilly are the best two left-backs in the Premier League by a million miles in my opinion. Lewis Hall should have been on the plane, he is that good. I rate him highly and he should have been picked by Thomas Tuchel. Hall is up there with the best, and he was my player of the season at Newcastle. I think it may come back to haunt us this summer."
Newcastle's Summer Bonus
Despite the disappointment over Hall, Newcastle United have already secured a significant financial boost this summer. The club has generated £69.3 million from player sales, including the departure of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona. Lee commented on Gordon's exit: "I would not put Anthony in the same bracket as Isak when he left. He did well for us, has gone to Barcelona, and we have made a good profit on him. The last couple of months weren't great, but I certainly would not say he was a nightmare for us; he did well the majority of the time. He went somewhere where he wanted to go, and we got the money. I have no problem with that, I just don't like keeping players who don't want to be here, it's pointless. Get the most money you can and spend it wisely."
Impact on England
Hall's absence from the England squad is seen as a major talking point, especially given his standout performances for Newcastle last season. Lee believes the decision could haunt England later in the tournament, as Hall's creativity and defensive solidity could have been crucial. With Livramento sidelined, Tuchel's left-back options are now limited, potentially leaving England exposed in that position.
