Journalist Jordan Cronin has claimed on the Loaded Mag YouTube channel that Eddie Howe will hand Jamal Lewis another chance at Newcastle United.
Only a few months into his new job, Howe was faced with the very tough decision of deciding on his 25-man Premier League squad as there were too many options at his disposal. Three were eventually left out – Ciaran Clark, Isaac Hayden and Lewis.
Clark and Hayden’s omissions may well have been expected as the former’s last action in a Newcastle shirt was to be sent off against Norwich City and Hayden was out injured, but Lewis, who had featured just six times at that point, was left out despite having age on his side, while players such as Matt Ritchie were afforded places in the squad.
Many may have seen this as the end for Lewis’ Newcastle career, but Cronin has revealed Howe will indeed give the defender another chance to impress.
He said: “I’ve been told that Jamal Lewis will get a chance in pre-season next season, so if he comes in and impresses in pre-season – which I’m sure he will, because I felt quite bad for him when he got left out the 25-man squad, because I don’t think he deserved it.
Is Lewis good enough for Newcastle?
Yes!
No!
“I think he just got injured at a bad time. He picked up a hamstring injury at Liverpool away and he was ruled out until January, and obviously Eddie Howe had made his mind up by that point that he was going to bring Matt Targett in.
“But when Newcastle signed Jamal Lewis, he was a player that was very close to signing for Liverpool only a few weeks prior; £15m at the time was seen as a bargain.”
TIF Thoughts on Lewis…
Newcastle have been linked with a move for Renan Lodi and Aaron Hickey this summer, as well as still having the option to buy Targett permanently, so Lewis could perhaps save Eddie Howe and PIF a lot of money if he steps up in pre-season and shows why he was linked with Liverpool in the past.
During Mike Ashley’s tenure at Newcastle, splashing £15m on one player was quite a rarity, so for Lewis to have flopped thus far with just 32 appearances in all competitions since 2020 isn’t great, but hopefully he can bounce back from his mistakes ahead of next season, or he could be set to miss out on some exciting times with the club.