Chelsea sold me, Newcastle United bought me - now I'm just lost for words

Having represented the Three Lions at youth level, Hall was named in the senior squad for the first time last week as a reward for his fine start to the campaign.

The 20-year-old didn’t start the 3-0 win in Greece on Thursday, a result that put England top of their Nations League group, but was introduced at half-time in place of Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa.

“We were warming up like you do at half-time as subs,” Hall explained. “Obviously, I’ve seen what happened to Ezri in the first half and he just said for all the defenders to keep warm and stuff.

“I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really expecting to come on just because of the position that Ezri plays. I think it was (performance coach) Chris Jones who told me and I couldn’t quite believe him at first.

“Luckily, I had another 10 minutes as well then to get myself ready and prepared to come on. It’s amazing. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet, really.

“I’m sure I’ll lie down tonight and realise what’s happened. It’s an amazing feeling for me and really happy to get the win as well.

“I did feel a bit nervous before coming on. But I think when you’re out there and you sort of get your first pass away and you’re in the game, you just treat it as any other game, really.

“There’s so many talented players around me that I knew anytime I get the ball that there’s always going to be options.

“There’s so much quality in the team, so it’s amazing to play with them players as well.”

Hall joined Newcastle from Chelsea last year, initially on loan, before the move turned permanent for an initial £28million in the summer. He had a tough start to life on Tyneside, making just one Premier League start before April. But from then onwards, the defender has gone from strength to strength.

This campaign, Hall has established himself as the club’s first choice left-back ahead of summer signing Lloyd Kelly, starting eight of the opening 11 Premier League games.

Now, he is hoping to the same at international level ahead of former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel’s arrival in January 2025.

“Personally, I’m just lost for words really,” Hall said. “Sometimes it’s difficult in football to really understand what happens until (down the line).

“Everything happens so quickly they don’t really get time to sit there and take it all in. At some point I’m going to have to do that, but, yeah, I’m really happy for tonight.

“Like you said, there’s not many left-backs but I’m just trying to take everything game by game and keep trying to play well for England whenever I get the opportunity and keep playing well for Newcastle whenever I’m playing as well.

“If I continue to do that then I’ll be in a good position.”

Hall could make his full debut when the Republic of Ireland visit Wembley on Sunday.