Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall expressed his joy at returning to the starting XI in the mixed zone following the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest. “I’m really happy to be back in the side. No player enjoys being on the bench, and I won’t lie—I wasn’t satisfied being left out. Everyone faces ups and downs in their career; it’s all about how you handle it. Today, I’m just grateful for the chance to play again,” Hall said.
With Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley sidelined due to injury, the manager opted to deploy Hall at right-back instead of veteran Kieran Trippier. Hall is expected to remain in that role for the final two matches of the season. “I’ve occasionally switched to the right during games, and this week the coach specifically worked with me in that position during training. Honestly, I can adapt to either full-back role—I enjoyed playing there today. Both sides have similarities but also some differences. With two games left, Trippier is always ready to step in; he’s a top player. Whatever the manager decides, we’ll follow,” Hall added.
Newcastle took the lead through Harvey Barnes’s 16th goal of the season, but Elliot Anderson’s equalizer for Forest turned three points into one. The Magpies have now dropped 27 points from winning positions this season, sparking criticism about the team’s mental fragility. Hall pushed back against those claims. “It’s frustrating—this has happened too many times this season, and no one is happy. But we have to look at the positives and move forward. I don’t agree that we’re a weak team, but we’ve definitely analyzed this issue internally and worked hard to fix it. Every side loses points from leading positions across a season, but 27 is too high. We have two league games left, and we’ll do everything to avoid more setbacks.”
The draw leaves Newcastle in 13th place, five points behind eighth-placed Brentford, making European qualification a long shot. However, Hall hasn’t given up hope. “Mathematically, it’s still possible. We have to rely on other results, and that’s not a nice feeling. All we can do is win our last two matches and see where the table ends up. Any European competition would be great for the club and the fans. Our supporters have stuck with us through tough times, and it would make me really happy to give them a surprise at the end of the season,” he concluded.