Jamal Lewis has been handed a start for Northern Ireland in this afternoon’s Nations League match against Kosovo in Belfast. This will be Jamal’s 27th cap for Northern Ireland.
? The team news is in! ? #GAWA pic.twitter.com/bU8EjFqA7I
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) September 24, 2022
The 24-year-old has not featured much over the past year as he’s struggled with multiple injuries. A long-term groin issue was addressed earlier this year leading to exclusion from Newcastle’s 25-man squad for the second half of last season.
The left back underwent multiple operations during that time to resolve the chronic issue. He returned for pre-season but struggled to regain full fitness until August. His only appearance this season was in the Carabao Cup where he came on in the second half for Matt Targett.
Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough spoke about Lewis’s call-up for his national team. Baraclough feels that Lewis is over the worst of his fitness woes saying:
“Having spoken to him he is in a good place fitness-wise. I think it can worry a player when you keep picking up these niggles and you are going to have procedures on them.
“It puts doubt in your mind and Jamal has gone through quite a bit over the last year to fight to regain his fitness. This has been over a period where a new manager has come into his club in Eddie Howe.
“That all plays on the mind if you are not quite right. Jamal is in a much stronger position. I know he has been named in the 25-man squad for Newcastle in the Premier League. So he will be looking to get his opportunities with his club. He will come to us in a different frame of mind.”
This start is very encouraging for Jamal and hopefully, he’ll be able to get 90 minutes under his belt. He’s been preferred over Paul Dummett on the bench recently and is working his way back into the reckoning at St. James’ Park.
Lewis hasn’t started a match since December when he injured his hamstring at Liverpool. His last appearance for Northern Ireland was in November during World Cup qualification.
201 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Comment #81‘Strengths’ My spell checker missed my mispelling!
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:35 PM
Comment #82Nijmegen-toon
Hello mate im enjoying your posts.
No that’s not what I meant or said. And I had been commenting originally on Quinn’s initial post where he stated that. I had previously been in defence of Wood saying we didn’t play to his strengths but I was saying to Quinn I understood how he felt Schar could.do a job upfront if you read back
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:37 PM
Comment #83Geordie Bill
How could we forget Jackie.
Yes surely no1
I remember his funeral passing along Stanhope st when I was a kid so obviously never got to see him play
sing in the corner
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:42 PM
Comment #84Fraser on the bench again. Clarke still in the huff with him then.
Keep practicing them crosses wee man. One for us anything like his 2 assists for the Jocks would be nice
Fenham to Chalfont
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:46 PM
Comment #85Personally, I’ve always liked Wood. When we signed him I thought it was an interesting signing. But 25m was way to high 10m max his worth was at that time IMO, However it may have been a knee jerk reaction due to our relegation threatening situation we were in at that time and nobody wanted to deal with us so with Wilson’s injury woes we found out he had a buy out clause and went for it…
Unfortunately, and admittedly he has not got to the heights I thought he would. IMO that is down to the way we play, it’s abundantly clear we’ve never played to his strengths. Which is a 442 with wingers delivering decent crosses into the box. When he scored against Southampton away last season with that great pinpoint delivery from Shelvey which was like bread and butter to him I thought here we go, he may kick on now, it didn’t happen as I’d hoped. Unfortunately, our deliveries and service into the box have not been great and he has been made absent during games because of this, which had a knock on effect as his confidence clearly went. He missed many a sitter potentially because of this…
Eddie stands by Wood which can only mean one thing, he knows he can become much better. He is an old fashioned type Target man at preseyis now a potential 3rd choice or second choice striker depending if Isak moves to the right or not when Wilson is fully fit. I’d love to see Wood get that confidence back and the quality of deliveries into the box improve accordingly. Then we may see that striker that has performed so well for both Leeds and Burnley respectively over the years. He averages 10 goals a season which is no mean feat when playing for teams that have always found it difficult to score.
I really hope Wood can come good as an impact Sub. As the guy can also defend our box if we are protecting a lead, which is a positive and shouldn’t be ignored. We shall see, but I do actually feel for the kid as he is a top pro and will be surely hurting right now how his short spell so far with us has panned out.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:46 PM
Comment #86Éire Abú
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:49 PM
Comment #87As hard as it may be, we’ve just got to accept that we’ve got Wood. For some of us, he’s no Longstaff, but he’s big enough to do the job…
Sorry, I’ll get my coat haha
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:54 PM
Comment #88Goal Linton,
No worries, maybe crossed wires, but where you said you got his thinking that Schar would be better than Wood as CF, I thought you were agreeing with him. Schar is definitely a better footballer than Wood but certainly not as a centre forward.
Fenham to Chalfont
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:56 PM
Comment #89Magic,
Your post #77. Dementia is a horrendous condition and so sorry to learn that your late Mam suffered from it which finally took her life. I couldn’t imagine how tough that must have been to endure. Things like what you went through (and sadly 100’s thousands of others) puts life into perspective it really does.
Your late mum god rest her soul will be looking down on you with an abundance of proudness as you are such a true gentleman that many of us need to take a leaf out your book on how to carry one’s self…
God bless you mate, we are blessed to have you on here that’s for sure. 🙂
HWTL
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:56 PM
Comment #90Fenham
Nail on the head and far more eloquently put than I could muster.
I don’t take any pleasure in knocking any of our players and only see the benefits of supporting them because that’s our job following the greatest team on earth.
What a horrible time it was early on in the takeover when we could have easily been the richest club in the championship, it would have been typically Newcastle haha
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:57 PM
Comment #91Fenham #85 – completely agree. I think it would be hard to argue that we didn’t pay over Wood’s market value in January and also impossible to argue that he hasn’t underachieved based on most peoples’ expectations but he’s still a solid striker, the 3rd best we have in the squad, clearly better than Dwight Gayle, and it serves no purpose for fans to be down on him.
I’m behind any player who wears the black & white stripes and tries hard so I’ll have his back until 1 of those things are no longer true.
sparky55
Sep 24, 2022 at 7:59 PM
Comment #92Wood will never come good playing for nufc…we play the wrong system. He had enough chances last year to keep up his 10 goal a season record but blew them all…and on several occasions he made the wrong run and didnt go to either post like a natural goal scorer would.
Burnley in their last two seasons in the prem crossed the ball into the box far more than we did. We play differently and he simply didnt adapt.
Tries hard but simply just not good enough
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:01 PM
Comment #93Nijmegen-toon
Not that I said I thought he was better than wood but that I got his understanding that schar could maybe do a job upfront. An emergency ST late on in a game for example Steve Howey style
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:04 PM
Comment #94We bought Wood as we were getting played by teams and we were made aware of his release clause through his agent. We would have had to pay over the top for any player we were in at that situation and ran the risk of missing out on anyone.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:04 PM
Comment #95sparky55 – that may well be true but he could yet come on in the 80th minute in a critical game and score the goal that makes all of the difference. Could be a cup game, could be the game to get us into Europe or creep into the top half. I’ll back him while he’s our player.
Or course, he could also be sold in January or over the summer. But for now, I back him.
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:05 PM
Comment #96TDS
I’m behind any player who wears the black & white stripes and tries hard so I’ll have his back until 1 of those things are no longer true
Nice
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:07 PM
Comment #97Goal Linton – the game has moved on since players changed position just like that. Can you think of a single player in the last decade who has done that other than a tall centre half going up towards the end of the game just to get his head on the ball?
Centre half and striker as such specialist roles. Schar wouldn’t have the movement or experience to play up front and PL defenders would easily deal with him.
So yeah, that’s a total non-starter for me.
Fenham to Chalfont
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:09 PM
Comment #98ToonDarnSarf
#91 decent post that
Davas
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:10 PM
Comment #99I think this may have been suggested before, but maybe when Wood comes on we should switch from inverted wingers to normal ones and get some crosses in to the box. I don’t necessarily mean go full on Burnley but mix it up a bit.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:11 PM
Comment #100Cheers lads. Sometimes the words just come together to accurately describe how you feel. I’d wager that there are many fans who feel the same way too.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:13 PM
Comment #101Davas – it’s not a bad idea. Back in the day, wingers used to change sides quite often, to give defenders something different to worry about, I don’t think it happens as often these days does it?
Maybe someone who watches more football than I do can add more.
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:17 PM
Comment #102TDS
I know the John Wark or Steve Walsh’s or even Dion dublins don’t exist anymore where they go from ST to CB.
Some talented fullbacks do go into midfield like the Bayern Munich pair Kimmich or Lahm
Fenham to Chalfont
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:18 PM
Comment #103Sparky,
Re Wood, when Wood comes into the pitch may be Eddie should change it up a bit to play to his strengths. When a strikers confidence goes it really shows. It’s all about mental strength and confidence. If someone tries to hard their natural way if playing goes out the window. I appreciate what you’re saying that Wood missed a hatful of chances but that can change like the wind when the wind go back into the sails and they get their belief back.
Going forward, Wood will be used as a striker that can be brought on to hold onto a slender lead. Before he joined us he was a 7/10 steady striker and I hope he can recapture that belief all strikers need. Hopefully Eddie can man manage him to assist with getting his head back in the game. If anyone can it’s Eddie. He has that SBR management style about him that gets the best out of a player.
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:18 PM
Comment #104Davas
We could have done that against Bournemouth late on.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:20 PM
Comment #105Goal Linton – that’s been happening for a while though, since attacking full backs like Le Saux became more common. There are loads of full backs these days capable of playing further forward, I just don’t think centre half to striker is a transferable position unless it’s literally just as a big lump up front to ping some balls towards and see what happens. Which obviously wouldn’t suit Schar.
sparky55
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:24 PM
Comment #106I will back every toon player that crosses the white line…but I can still be objective as to what I think they can deliver.
Pope…very good keeper 8.5 / 10
Tripper…excellent 9/10
Schar very good. 8/10
Botman…great potential 7.5 /10
Targett. Mr reliable. 7.5 /10
Bruno…genius. 9.5 /10
Joe…the machine. 8.5 / 10
Willock…progress stalled. 7/10
ASM. The unreliable genius 8/10
Isak…gonna be very good 8/10
Wilson…when fit 8/10
Burn…limited but devoted. 6.5/10
Lascelles..too big too slow 6.5/10
Jojo…7.5 /10 all day every day
Lewis…will come good. 6.5 /10
Dummet…6.5 / 10
Longstaff. 6.5/10
Wood…limited / committed 6/10
Fraser. Limited Committed 6.5/10
Murphy. Gone backwards 5/10
Only JoJo in the last bunch is worthy of a starting slot in place of willock. The rest should be nowhere near the first 11 and we just have to hope they contribute when brought on…but they haven’t thus far.
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:25 PM
Comment #107TDS
It’s not my argument mate haha
I never said Schar would be a suitable CF or he was better than Wood or that I would ever dream of playing him there.
Just didn’t want to upset Quinn as he was a good poster haha
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:26 PM
Comment #108As I stated I totally agreed with like.most with Bills analysis
lochinvar
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:28 PM
Comment #109Jinky Smith
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:29 PM
Comment #110Sparky
#106
Great post although I think a little harsh Burn haha
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:29 PM
Comment #111sparky55 – perfect post from my perspective. Not that I agree with all the scores you’ve given (we all have slightly different opinions of course) but the fact that you have different expectations of our players. Being disappointed that Murphy doesn’t do as well as ASM would just be silly but if you’ve got lower expectations of Murphy then you can still respect when he matches (or even exceeds) them.
Davas
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:30 PM
Comment #112Just dipping in and out as I’m busy with stuff.
TDS
Yeah, occasionally Miggy and ASM swap but not often I think.
Goal Linton.
I missed the Bournemouth game as I was travelling but yeah it would have given them something different to think about and would play more to woods strength.
Fenham to Chalfont
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:30 PM
Comment #113Goal Linton
#90 exactly, we were so close to the championship, that sqaud pulled off a record breaking second half to the season. I had us down in December and I’m a glass half full type guy.
We should have been playing championship football this season. We have a lot to thank Eddie, his coaching team and ALL the squad for, it was truly remarkable. The second half to last season was a pleasure to behold we should never forget. It saved 2/3 years of our project staving off relegation, It’s why the owners have Eddie’s back IMO. It was an unprecedented end to the season that shut so many pundits mouths clean shut haha 😉
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:31 PM
Comment #114Goal Linton – hah! Well yes, I can certainly agree that TMQ is a good poster. At the same time as that, I can also feel that he’s been on the happy sauce to come up with that howler…
Sorry TMQ, hope you take that in the right spirit! 🙂
magicmac54
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:32 PM
Comment #115Fenham@89
Thanks for your kind words Fenham lad much appreciated. I have no doubt some other Blog members on here will have had family members who have succumbed to that gut-wrenching dementia. Typical tough physical international derby match here between Scotland and Ireland.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:35 PM
Comment #116Davas – I’m trying to think of other PL football I’ve watched too and I’m not sure how much I’ve seen wingers swap sides in recent seasons. Maybe it happens more often than I realise. I’ve seen full backs advance beyond wingers more often recently and strikers roam a lot more than they used to but feel that I’ve just seen less of wingers swapping sides.
I do think it mixes things up though. One minute they’re worrying about a winger cutting inside and shooting and the next the main threat is a cross from the touch line.
Fenham to Chalfont
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:36 PM
Comment #117Sparky,
#106 personally cannot argue with your well thought out post.
However, just one change for me:
– Burn, devoted to the cause, a die hard Geordie thay runs through bricks walls with a professional approach an easy= 7.5/10
Goal Linton
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:36 PM
Comment #118Fenham
Hear hear mate spot on
Magic
Evening mate
magicmac54
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:40 PM
Comment #119TDS
Evening big lad, are you having a really good holiday fella, i reckon your handicap will go up again by the time you get back unless you have been getting some practice in Turkey?
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2022 at 8:44 PM
Comment #120I’m really looking forward to seeing the Wood that a lot of people say he could be, just hope it doesn’t take too long!