Lewis Hall is living proof of how good things come to those who wait.
And Hall is hoping his patience rewards him with a rekindling of his relationship with new England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel was the manager who gave Hall his professional debut for Chelsea at the age of just 17, in an FA Cup third round tie at home to Chesterfield. In the process, Hall became the youngest player in Chelsea’s history to appear in the competition. Both Hall and Tuchel have since headed in different directions.
Hall joined Newcastle on-loan before making the move permanent, while Tuchel headed to Bayern Munich following his sacking from Chelsea, and is now waiting in the wings to start his reign as Three Lions boss.
In the meantime, Hall will look to make an impact under interim manager Lee Carsley, following his first senior call-up ahead of Nations League games against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
(Image: PA Wire)
But there is no hiding the fact that Hall is hoping his previous history with Tuchel, however brief, can help him have a long and successful future at international level.
Hall said: “I remember when I was at Chelsea, I was 17 I think when I first trained with the first team. I just remember him and his staff being really welcoming to me. I think they realised how big a thing it was for me as a young player, and I remember his sessions were really good.
“There was a lot possession based, which was something I really enjoyed, and he was a good person to me. He gave me my debut, and I think without that, it wouldn’t have given me the confidence I got when I was younger, so I’m grateful to him for that.
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“He did speak to me after that game, saying how impressed he was and things like that. I was grateful for the opportunity and I think it gave me the confidence to kick on from there.
“But when I saw my name in the starting line-up, I think that is the most nervous I have ever been.”
Hall took some time to settle on Tyneside, leaving Newcastle fans baffled and frustrated. But he is now establishing himself as one of the best young left backs in England, a position which remains wide open in the England team.
And Hall is hoping to feel the nerves once again, should Carsley decide to hand him his senior debut.
Hall said: “To be in this camp now is something I am truly grateful for. Right now I am just trying to learn from other people who have been in the squad for a while.
“I think I would be (nervous), but I think that can be a good thing because even now, I will be honest, I think some games even now, even at Newcastle I do get nervous here and there. But I feel that helps me, it motivates me to play well and perform, so I think it is quite a good thing to get nerves. So if that were to happen, I would be delighted.”
Hall was having a lie in when he got a text from Carsley asking him to get in touch.
He added: “I gave him a call and he told me the news. I was obviously buzzing.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect really, I had a feeling that I was playing well and stuff like that, but you never know whether that meant I was close to the squad or anything like that.
“I was a bit on edge, as soon as I called him back I found out, I was really happy.”