JUST IN: Newcastle United star unexpectedly called up by England as sensational ace trains away from group

Newcastle United have representation in Gareth Southgate’s England setup this week

Newcastle United youngster Lewis Hall has been temporarily drafted into the England squad as Gareth Southgate’s men train at St George’s Park. The Magpies full-back, 18, was given the unexpected nod, along with former Chelsea team-mate Bashir Humphreys, to offer cover in the senior side during Tuesday morning’s training session.

Hall was already with England’s youth sides after being called up to England’s under-20 side by interim head coach Joe Edwards. The under-20s won’t play any matches during the international break as they get ready for the Euro U20 Elite League in October, instead training for five days at the national training base.

 

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson linked up with England on Tuesday morning but trained indoors, away from the rest of the squad, along with Bukayo Saka and Levi Colwill. None of the trio are injured but Hall and Humphreys were drafted in to offer cover in training.

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Kieran Trippier is expected to join his England co-stars later in the week after a short break in Italy, while Nick Pope and Anthony Gordon will be watching the upcoming internationals against Ukraine and Scotland from home after being left out of Southgate’s squad this time around.

 

Hall will gain vital experience this week as he proves his worth alongside some of England’s regulars but will also, crucially, step up his fitness too. The teenager is yet to feature for Newcastle after his summer transfer, with Eddie Howe convinced he needs more time to improve his fitness after a disrupted pre-season.

 

“Lewis is building his fitness up I’d say so there was no temptation to start him because he has started at zero with us really having not played pre-season,” Howe admitted after the 3-1 defeat to Brighton. “We’re building him up nicely and he’s doing very well.”