There has been some mixed news on the injury front today as we head into Sunday’s clash with Nottingham Forest and the upcoming international break.
Yoane Wissa’s return has been delayed until the start of November, Jacob Ramsey could be back in the squad this weekend, and Tino Livramento’s eight-week absence has been confirmed.
But one player Eddie Howe discussed at length in this morning’s press conference was Lewis Hall, who was called up to the England Under-21 squad today alongside Lewis Miley.
The left-back started back to back games last month against Bournemouth and Bradford, but was left out of the squad against Arsenal and came on late in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Union SG.
Howe has explained why he needs time to build himself back up, stating: “Lewis has been slightly more complex. We’re just trying to get him to feel totally comfortable within his body again. We have to monitor his work.”
Asked if he could start against Forest this weekend, Howe offered a mixed response, suggesting he is available but is still building back to “100%” to ensure he feels robust enough to play regularly again:
“He will be available (to start). But Lewis has had a couple of little things in his body where he hasn’t felt 100% right,” Howe said.
“So we have got to try and get him back feeling robust enough, as he was before his injury, to play regularly. He looked physically great at that moment, and sometimes we forget how young he is, so we have to look after him.
“He will get to that stage where is able to play fluently again, and take the load no problem. Even with the schedule we have, I see a time where he can play all the games he wants to play. But he has to play well. ”
Hall broke a bone in his foot earlier this year and had surgery in February, seeing him miss the final stretch of the 2024/25 season and much of pre-season.
