Report: Howe has really been impressed by dropped Newcastle player, thinks he has ‘genuine potential’

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It wasn’t really a huge surprise that Eddie Howe dropped Jamal Lewis from his squad to accommodate his new signings after the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old left-back, signed by Steve Bruce from Norwich City in 2020, was viewed by many as a top-quality addition. He was really good for the Canaries during his time there and there was no reason then to believe it wouldn’t work at St James’ Park.

However, Lewis has really struggled in a Newcastle shirt. He just hasn’t been able to get going and Matt Targett’s arrival in January meant that there’s no place for him in the squad.

He was dropped and no Newcastle fan really believed there’s a way back for him. However, that could change now.

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Jamal Lewis has impressed Newcastle boss Howe after getting dropped

According to The Athletic, Lewis is still training with the first team at Newcastle and Howe has been impressed.

The report claims that the Magpies boss now views the 24-year-old as someone with ‘genuine potential’. It has been claimed that Lewis’ endurance and athleticism are two things in particular that have caught Howe’s eye, and that could well change his fortunes.

Lewis still has over three years left on his contract and he will not play any football in the next few months. That could mean he’ll leave in the summer, but it’s definitely not as certain as it seemed a few weeks ago.

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Lewis has always been a good talent and it really is a shame that it hasn’t quite worked out for him at Newcastle under Bruce and initially in Howe’s tenure.

However, the Newcastle boss has now seen what Lewis is all about and that is a huge positive. Targett’s loan will expire in the summer and it looks likely that the Magpies will try and sign him on a permanent deal.

That ruins Lewis’ chances of becoming the first choice, but he could still be a backup option, especially if he continues to impress Howe in the next few months.

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