EDDIE HOWE accepts Lewis Hall has taken time to settle into life at Newcastle United, but regards the decision to sign the full-back from Chelsea as a “great bit of business”.

Hall returns to Stamford Bridge tomorrow having established himself as Newcastle’s first-choice left-back in the first couple of months of this season.

The 20-year-old initially joined the Magpies on a loan basis, but a clause in the deal meant Newcastle were obliged to sign him on a permanent basis for around £35m this summer.

Hall struggled to force his way into Howe’s first-choice side last season, making just eight Premier League starts, but it has been a different story in the current campaign, with the full-back starting five of Newcastle’s eight league games.

“The thing with Lewis, when we were looking at the deal last year, was the lack of equal players in that position,” said Howe. “I wouldn’t say we took a chance, but we took an opportunity to sign a young player that we knew would be growing and developing into the player that he was going to become.

READ MORE:

“We wanted to grab that opportunity while we had it. We felt that if we waited, he would possibly move beyond us.

“He took time to develop, as all young players do. He was so young when he came to us initially, and it was his first time away.

“But the growth in him towards the back end of last season, and certainly the development in his game this season, I think has been really strong.

“I’ve been really pleased with the way he’s played in the last few games, and he’s adding layers all the time, different strengths to his game. I can only see that improving, so I think it’s a great bit of business by us.”