'His ankle' - Newcastle United issue official Lewis Hall injury update after Burnley win
Lewis Hall was in the wars during Newcastle United’s 3-1 victory away to Burnley.
Eddie Howe insists Newcastle United’s 3-1 win at Burnley was more about the result than the performance.
Newcastle made a rapid start to the game with goals from Joelinton and Yoane Wissa inside the opening seven minutes.
But rather than put the relegation-threatened Clarets to the sword, the Magpies allowed them back into the game when Josh Laurent made it 2-1 in the 32nd minute.
Scott Parker’s side pushed for an equaliser but United rode the storm before wrapping up the result in stoppage time through Bruno Guimaraes’ strike.
Eddie Howe reflects on Newcastle United’s 3-1 win at Burnley
Newcastle clinched only their second Premier League away victory of the campaign to move up to 10th in the table.
Reflecting on the win, Howe said: “Yes, a massive win for us. I don't think it really matters tonight so much in terms of how we did it, we just needed to do it. A really strong start from us, in recognition of how important the game was for us. I can't praise the players enough for how we battled through it.
“It was never going to be easy tonight. That second half was a massive 45 minutes for us. We needed to get over the line and put credit to the players for how they saw the game out and the character of the group.
“In my opinion, we're moving in the right direction in terms of level of performance. I think over time, if you continue to play well, I thought Manchester United were case in point. I don't think we played badly and I think we had chances to get more from the game, but we didn't take the general performance for strong.
“I think over time you will win games with the quality of players that we have and I think that showed today. We're not at our most confident level at the moment, I think that's obvious, but I do think it's a confidence issue more than anything else. And the only way to resolve that is to win games.”
Newcastle United issue Lewis Hall update
The Magpies currently have just three senior defenders available and there was some concern surrounding one of those after Lewis Hall twice went down needed treatment.
When Hall received physio treatment midway through the second-half, 21-year-old Alex Murphy was stripped and ready to come only for him to sit down after Hall give the thumbs up to continue.
Providing an update on Hall, Howe told NewcastleWorld: “I think he just twisted his ankle in that first half when he went down the first time. It was obviously bothering him in the second half, but he was able to get through it. And I'm really pleased that he did.
“We needed him too. Fingers crossed there's no big injury there.”