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Eddie Howe and Lewis Hall on Newcastle hosting Barcelona at St James' Park
09/03/2026
Uefa26 champions league
09/03/2026
Uefa26 champions league
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00:26Welcome to St James's Park, ahead of tomorrow's match with Barcelona.
00:30If you have a question, please raise your hand and we'll get as many as we can in the next
00:3415 minutes and then you'll be joined by Lewis Hall.
00:37We'll start with Luke Edwards, please.
00:39Can you describe this as the biggest game in the U-Cart Hall's history? Is that a mental approach that
00:45you want everybody associated with your players, your staff and the Hall to have?
00:50Yeah, it is. Recent history, I don't know if someone could trip me up.
00:58Going way back, I'm sure they will. But I think recent history, for me it is and I think that's
01:05very much the mentality we need.
01:06I think rising to the occasion, embracing the size of the game, I think these are things that have helped
01:14us this season and we're looking for the same again.
01:16Do you enjoy that sort of underdog role, kind of punching above your weight, where that's tended to bring out
01:21the best in you in the four years you've been in the ball?
01:24Well, I'm not playing. But yeah, I know what you mean. I think the underdog role, to a degree, in
01:31my time here has helped us at times.
01:33When we've been in that position where we feel the odds are stacked against us and we're going to need
01:39to use every psychological tool that we can to help us in this game.
01:46Because it's undeniable, we're playing a very, very good team. An outstandingly well-coached team, I have to say as
01:52well, from having watched them thoroughly in both games, preparing for them as we have done.
01:56They're a top team.
01:58Thank you. Keith Downey?
01:59Eddie, an unusual situation that you've played in Barcelona for the second time this season, although that game feels like
02:06a couple of seasons ago we've played so many games since then.
02:09What do you take from that first game that can help you get a positive result?
02:15Yeah, quite a lot, Keith. I think when you go through that experience, as we've said lots of times before,
02:21when you're playing the very best teams,
02:23I think you take a little bit of that game with you going forward because I think there's so much
02:28to take from that.
02:28I thought they played well, we played well, especially for the first half of the game, I thought we were
02:35right in it.
02:36We swung on big moments in front of goal, they took theirs, we didn't take ours.
02:42But I think we can take a lot of confidence from our performance for the majority of the game and
02:45obviously take little bits away from what we needed to improve.
02:49Obviously Marcus Rashford scored two great goals on the night for them and we just switched off for a second
02:55and they punished us.
02:56What would be a positive result for you? Do you feel you need to take something there to have a
03:01chance of going through such a difficult place to go play?
03:04Well, I think they proved very recently against Atletico Madrid that probably the game's not going to be dead regardless
03:12of the outcome in this game.
03:13I think for us, we just have to focus on trying to win. I think you can't overthink it.
03:18Having watched both of those games, it was really intriguing. They obviously had a big deficit to try and claw
03:23back and they nearly got there.
03:24It was two really good games against Atletico. And again, I think their recent record on the league, they've been
03:30very consistent.
03:31Their style of play is consistent. So I think we know what we're going to face.
03:47He probably hasn't done enough training for me to feel 100% confident that he's in that best physical moment,
03:54especially for such a big game to start.
03:56But he's in our squad and anyone who's in that position obviously is in contention to play. So it's a
04:03delicate balance with Tino at the moment.
04:06He trained again this morning, obviously trained again on Friday and is in good spirits and is in a good
04:11place.
04:11He's a massive player for us. It's great to have him back. But obviously, I've got to try and get
04:16the team selection right.
04:17And how do you balance wanting to take an advantage to that second leg with staying in the tie in
04:22the two-leg semi-final against Manchester City conceding the second goal so late?
04:27How do you balance it?
04:29Yeah, hopefully we can learn lessons from that tie. Yeah, we just want to win the game and I think
04:37that's in our thoughts.
04:38But of course, there's another game to come. So you don't want to do anything foolish that can impact your
04:43chances of trying to get through.
04:45And ultimately, that's the aim, regardless of this game, the away game, trying to get through is obviously the objective.
04:53Thank you. Lee Ryder then, Craig Hall, please.
04:55Eddie, going into this game, there's obviously good memories of the PSG game when you started somewhere in that game
05:02getting in crunch titles early on.
05:03Are you going to have to do something similar in this game to set the tone from the very start?
05:09Yeah, a good start I think is really important. But as you saw against Manchester City at the weekend, it's
05:16not the be-all and end-all.
05:17Of course, you want to set the authority in the game, you want to show your opponent that you mean
05:23business.
05:23But we have to carry that through for the whole game. We have to be there at the end just
05:27as much as we are at the beginning.
05:30So I think we've had some great recent experiences to help us for the two-legged game.
05:35I think all our Champions League games have been a great dress rehearsal for this moment.
05:39I think that's how we have to look at it. Now is the moment where we need to be at
05:42our very best.
05:43At times against Manchester City, it was very difficult to actually get the ball off them.
05:48How do you stop them from dictating Barca to go under this one?
05:52They've got a lot of similarities with Manchester City.
05:55As we found in the first game, that was one of the difficulties.
05:58Their midfield three were technically very good.
06:02They've got really good movements and rotations in their team, so stabilising off the ball,
06:08making sure we engage our press at the right times,
06:14and then making sure we keep the ball when we get it.
06:16These are all big things, we need to be a goal threat, and we need our attacking players to fire.
06:23I'm going to ask you a question about Barcelona in 1987,
06:26but first of all, that statement about this being the biggest game of attention from recent history,
06:31is part of that motivated by legends, legacy?
06:36This literally is Barcelona in a knockout game once in a lifetime.
06:40The question came after an FA Cup game, the FA Cup comes around next year.
06:44Is it the one-off nature of this and the chance to write your name and the players' name in
06:47the club's history?
06:48Is that the allure and the romanticism which has sort of kept the age?
06:51To a point, yes. I think there's only 16 teams left and we're one of them,
06:57so I think it's very much an opportunity to grab a moment that we may never get again.
07:06You don't know what life brings tomorrow, yet alone future seasons.
07:10We don't want to waste that opportunity, don't want to kick ourselves and think what ifs.
07:15So I think this is a moment for us to try and grab.
07:18Since my time here, just over four years, we've worked to get to this point.
07:24So as long as we perform to our maximum, we'll have to accept the result.
07:28But we want to try and get as close as we can to our very best.
07:31In Barcelona, you were a 19-year-old professional at Bournemouth.
07:35It was live on ITV. Can you remember when you were watching memories of that?
07:40Yeah, I watched the game. I don't remember where I was.
07:44I assume I was at home, but the memory is a bit hazy of that time of my life.
07:48I think I was very, very focused on my own playing career at the time and the early stages of
07:52that.
07:53But I think you couldn't not watch that moment on terrestrial TV.
07:57It was one of those legendary games.
08:01And of course, going back to your earlier question,
08:03we want people in future years to be talking about this team.
08:07And of course, Tino Asprea gets a hat-trick, mainly off Keith Gillespie's delivery on the right.
08:12I'd want our players to be talked about in the same way 20, 30, 40 years later.
08:17The gentleman at the back.
08:18Hi Eddie.
08:19I don't know how many references you take from the game back in September,
08:23but as the game progressed, Barcelona forced you a little into a low block but a deeper block certainly.
08:29Looking back, do you think that was an unavoidable consequence of their quality?
08:33Or is it something you went through at least?
08:37Yeah, I think it's an unavoidable, or on the night it was an unavoidable reaction to their quality.
08:42I think their midfield three on the day did really, really well to try and control the game and to
08:50make the game as they wanted it to.
08:51And I thought they were the standout players that really helped swing that game in their direction.
08:57So, of course, for us, we had our moments, as I say, especially in that first half and opportunities to
09:02score that we didn't take.
09:03And ultimately, you sort of look back at the end of the game and you think they're the key moments
09:07in the game.
09:08Because if we were able, went on top to score, I think that's the key thing.
09:11And even against Manchester City at the weekend, we got our noses in front, but we couldn't stabilise and push
09:16on.
09:18There's definitely parallels between that game and this game that we need to adjust and do better with.
09:23Gentlemen, just in front, in the middle here?
09:25Yeah.
09:27Yes.
09:30For him in Spanish?
09:31Absolutely.
09:32Okay.
10:00I didn't get all of that question, I'm afraid.
10:02I'll try and answer what I think you're...
10:05So, tell me if it's wrong.
10:08Yeah, he's an outstanding player.
10:10We obviously didn't face him in the first game, so I think it's a great challenge for us to try
10:16and deal with his qualities.
10:18He's been in outstanding form.
10:20Watching the recent games, I've been hugely impressed by him.
10:23So, I think in the wide areas off both sides, they've got huge threats.
10:27We're going to have to defend very, very well and better than we did at the weekend in the wide
10:31areas.
10:32And then, of course, as I said earlier, we have to bring our threats as well and we have to
10:36make sure that they're there in the game for us to win.
10:39Okay, thank you.
10:40Martin Hardy?
10:42The game against Barcelona in 1997 is regarded as one of the best atmospheres the stadium has ever had.
10:49Is your message to the supporters to recreate that tomorrow?
10:52In an ideal world, yes, but of course, there's a reason why it was the best atmosphere or so-called
10:57best atmosphere that you say is because the team played so well.
11:02Scored three goals.
11:04They could have scored more as well.
11:06Some brilliant attacking from the team and some late pressure from Barcelona.
11:12But that's why, because the team gave the crowd what it needed and that's what we have to do tomorrow.
11:18I think the start of the game against Barcelona here was, again, red hot.
11:22The atmosphere was incredible.
11:23We just couldn't carry it through.
11:25We couldn't do our bit to sort of confirm that up there with the previous game.
11:31So I think it's all on us.
11:32I know the crowd will be there when needed to help us.
11:36And how are the players getting through this new game?
11:42They're doing okay.
11:43They're doing okay.
11:44I think it's not been a perfect season for us.
11:47It's not been easy.
11:51But I think their attitude to it all has been really, really good.
11:56We're always trying to find new ways to improve and to evolve and to help the team.
12:02I think the players have taken that workload on and the consistency of it really well.
12:08We're going to need a big, big physical effort tomorrow.
12:10It's another short turnaround after a really big game against Manchester City
12:14where we had a lot of running to do.
12:16So it wasn't, again, ideal preparation for this one.
12:18But no excuses.
12:20The players will be ready.
12:22Gary Stonehouse.
12:22Are you ready?
12:24Given every season since you've been in the club's broken new frontiers,
12:28you said this is the biggest game in recent history.
12:31Would it be your biggest achievement at the club if you could take Newcastle into the last day?
12:39Yeah, possibly.
12:40But I'm not really...
12:42Well, I don't care about myself and my record or what people think is for the club, really.
12:48I want the club to...
12:50Desperate for the club to break new ground and to keep going in this competition,
12:54having worked so hard to get here.
12:56So it's...
12:58We're all thinking of the club.
12:59We're trying to support the players to give the best performance that we've given so far.
13:04And I think we're going to need to break new ground in terms of performance levels.
13:06So if there's a time for us to be at our absolute best, it's in these two games.
13:12Dominic.
13:13You spoke about having a lot of players that were maxed out after the Man U game.
13:18Julie, Anthony, Golden, Jacob Browns, you've rested for Man City.
13:21Just how is the squad looking? How are they doing?
13:24Yeah, I think we came through the Manchester City game OK, relatively OK.
13:29I think no fresh injuries.
13:32They've got a little bit of illness again in the camp.
13:34So it's been sort of hanging around in recent days.
13:38We'll have a player go down, but they're recovering quite quickly.
13:42So I anticipate, fingers crossed, we won't lose anybody.
13:45And it will be as we were with Tino Livramento back in the squad.
13:49You touched on it before, but Laminia Malenbaugh tomorrow night.
13:51Lewis Hall also wasn't involved, but was on the bench on you.
13:55So we gave it at the end of the season.
13:57How exciting the battle is that?
13:58It's shaping up to be between two of the best players in their positions in terms of young players.
14:05Yeah, I think providing on team selection, I think that will be an interesting battle
14:11between two really good players, as you say.
14:14There's a lot of intriguing battles across the pitch when you look at the teams and you line them up.
14:20And certainly sort of player for player, when you go up against the player,
14:23a respective player in that position, you've got to try and come out on top.
14:25And that's going to be my message to the group.
14:28We need to win our individual duels.
14:30We need to win the tussles in those big moments,
14:33because that could be a pivotal turn of the game.
14:36We're looking for one moment of magic from an attacking player.
14:38And of course, we've got to concentrate better defensively.
14:40OK, we've got time for one more. Damien Spellman.
14:42And if you saw Lewis, you were very patient in introducing him to the first game when he first came
14:47in.
14:47How impressed have you been with his development since? And where is he on his journey?
14:52I think he's done incredibly well. I think it was a steep sort of learning curve for him when he
14:58first came in.
14:59Not just sort of on and off the pitch, but more in his personal life, having left his family home
15:04and all the challenges that go with that for someone being so young.
15:07And I think with Lewis, he's one of those players that we forget how young he is at times.
15:11He's very quiet. He's sort of goes about his business in a very uncomplicated way.
15:17But in that first season, he really had to show his resilience side.
15:21He had to do a lot of individual work, group work, development work to become the player he is today.
15:27And I think there's still a lot more to come from him.
15:30I think he's definitely on the right track. He's come back from a serious injury and he's beginning to find
15:34his very, very best form again.
15:37I think he's such an exciting player, one that I think will continue to go from strength to strength, we
15:41hope.
15:42Thank you very much, everybody. Apologies to anyone we missed out with time.
15:46Lewis Hall will be with you in just a minute. Thank you.
15:48Thanks very much. Cheers. All the best.
18:04Hi, guys.
18:07Guys, we're ready to start, please.
18:10We've got 15 minutes with Lewis. I'm aware it's a very busy room.
18:15Keith, if you want to start us off.
18:19Lewis, nice to see you. It's been our happy news of big games these last few weeks or these last
18:25few days.
18:26How are you feeling about the prospect of Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League?
18:31Yeah, we're really excited as a team. Obviously, round of 16 is something that the club's not been in before.
18:40And, yeah, we know that it's a really important game for us as a club, for me as a fan.
18:47So, yeah, we're all really excited and we're looking forward to hopefully putting a good performance on.
19:04Yeah, I think it goes without saying. He's obviously a special talent. I've seen him play in enough Champions League
19:11games. I know what he's about. So, for me, if I was to be selected, it's obviously...
19:18..I'll be really looking forward to it. For me, I want to test myself against the best players in the
19:22world.
19:23So, no better opportunity to do so than the game tomorrow. So, really looking forward to it.
19:29Damian Craig, then Lee Ryder, please.
19:31Lewis, as a young birdie, you sometimes have to pinch yourself when you think back at what you've achieved over
19:36the last couple of years.
19:39Yeah, I think so. I think for me, sometimes I don't like to do that too much because I like
19:45to take everything in my stride.
19:47I think that's an important thing for a young player to do. I think anyone who gets caught up in
19:54the moment, it can all become a bit overwhelming.
19:58So, I think it's important that you just take everything as it goes along, take game by game,
20:03and sort of just think about how you can improve what you've done and sort of what you can do
20:07for the next game.
20:08And I think that's my mentality at the minute.
20:11Craig?
20:12You don't want to come across a story either because you're on your own brilliant journey.
20:15But Lamine Amal, what's been your observation of him from afar, coming through?
20:20You've got this chance to play against him now, to play with him on a video game.
20:24What's your relationship with Lamine Amal from afar, of course?
20:29My relationship with him is no different to any other player. I know the moments that he can produce.
20:36I know what he's like as a player. But I think they've got so many different threats in their team.
20:42So, I think to single one out individually, as good of a player as he is, I think that would
20:46be not a smart thing to do.
20:49So, I think for us as a team, we're just looking at their threats and how we can nullify them
20:54and what we can do to win the game.
20:57Lee, then Nietzsche, please.
20:59Lewis, obviously you had the injury 12 months ago. It was a strange one. You came off the picture and
21:04you knew you'd been injured, did you?
21:06So, it was a very tough time. Fast forward now, you must be relishing this and I'm quite grateful that
21:13all that's behind you.
21:14Yeah, 100%. I think that was a difficult moment. Obviously, I wasn't expecting the results of my scans to come
21:25back as what they were.
21:27And obviously, missed the Carabao Cup final, which has obviously got in for me.
21:32And yeah, I think it's something that I've learnt a lot from mentally and I think it's made me mentally
21:37stronger.
21:39But yeah, like you said, to be in the position now, round of 16 in the Champions League tomorrow against
21:43Barcelona,
21:44I think I'm really looking forward to it and I think everything I've been through so far has put me
21:50in the position now and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
21:52And as a team, everything now is living in the Champions League. You could get the Europa Conference League by
21:59the league,
21:59but this is a big opportunity now for everybody.
22:03Yeah, 100%. We know the importance of tomorrow as a fixture in general.
22:09Obviously, there's still enough games to go in the league that we can turn it around and stuff like that.
22:15But yeah, I think we just need to put that to the side for now and just focus on tomorrow's
22:19game as that's the most important thing right now.
22:22Nisha then, Mark, please.
22:24Hi, Lewis. Your performances this season have been one of the highlights of Newcastle's season.
22:29How much has the prospect of the Champions League, also a World Cup, how much motivation has that given you?
22:38Yeah, it's definitely a motivating factor. I think for me, as I've said before, I like to take every game
22:45by game.
22:47I'm still young. I'm still learning. I'm still learning about how I can improve, how I can influence the team
22:53in better ways and things like that.
22:57So yeah, I think it's a big opportunity tomorrow. And like you said, Champions League, World Cup, they're obviously massive
23:03competitions.
23:04But for me, I don't really think about that too much. I just think about what I can do to
23:08help the team in the next game and how we can do our best to win.
23:13Your manager and the players have said throughout the season that you've saved your best for this competition. Where can
23:20you reach? What level can you get to in terms of performance?
23:23Is there a real belief that you can knock out one of the best clubs in the world?
23:28Yeah, I think we've been in really good form this Champions League campaign. I think it's been obviously a bit
23:36frustrating comparing that to sort of our league form at the minute.
23:40But yeah, if we look purely at our Champions League campaign so far, I think we can be really proud
23:45of the performances and the efforts that we've put in.
23:48And I think throughout the seasons and the last couple of seasons as well, I think we've shown that on
23:54our day that we can be a good game against anyone.
23:56And I truly believe as a member of this team that I feel like we can be anyone on our
24:01day because I feel like we've got a lot of quality.
24:04We've got the passion and obviously we've got a really passionate set of supporters as well, as everyone will know.
24:10So, yeah, we're all looking forward to tomorrow and it's a massive opportunity for us.
24:15Mark and Gary, please.
24:17The manager has just said it's possibly one of the biggest games in the past recent history. Is that how
24:21you see it? Is it one of the biggest games of your career?
24:24Yeah, I'd say it's definitely up there. I think I've played a lot of games now that have been really
24:30important for my development as a player.
24:33But I think when you get to this sort of end in the competition, it becomes the business end of
24:38the competition, really.
24:41Yeah, round of 16 in the Champions League over two legs. I wouldn't say that I've played in any bigger
24:46games than that.
24:47So, yeah, tomorrow's going to be a big one for me, but I'm looking forward to it.
24:51Obviously, you're too young to remember 97 or that, but is that kind of the idea of becoming a legend
24:58like that?
25:00Yeah, obviously, when we played them in the group stages, that was when I first heard about that result, sort
25:08of.
25:10So, yeah, I knew sort of what an iconic moment that was in a sense.
25:14So, yeah, I guess tomorrow is going to be another opportunity where we can maybe put in another performance that
25:21Newcastle fans and Newcastle as a club can look back on as a real turning point and sort of, well,
25:27a proud moment for the club, really.
25:30Gary, then, Louise, please.
25:32Lewis, have you ever stepped onto a football pitch feeling coming up a day into the morning?
25:37And as you progress through, obviously, you know, you've got hopes of making the World Cup.
25:42Is that just completely out of your respect?
25:47Yeah, 100 per cent. I think if you're going onto a football pitch, fearing or worrying about anything, I think
25:55that already puts you on the back foot personally.
25:57I think for me, I always go on with a positive mindset, self-belief.
26:02I think it's an important thing because I think if you don't believe in yourself, then I think it makes
26:07it hard for anyone else to do so.
26:09So for me, whenever I'm playing, I've been playing football for 18, 19 years, obviously, different journey to sort of
26:18what other people might have.
26:20But obviously, I know my own journey and for me personally, I think my journey has been special.
26:26And yeah, I'm looking forward to sort of every game as it comes.
26:29And yeah, tomorrow is a big opportunity for me and for the team.
26:32So yeah, we're all excited.
26:34And just last one for me.
26:36You spoke here in November where you opened up about, you know, speaking with a psychologist and stuff when you
26:41were coming back.
26:42All that hard work and things you've done, you know, some people are reluctant to speak out or seek help.
26:49Is it all being worthwhile for moments like this?
26:53Tomorrow night, you know, knockout game against Barcelona and the Champions League.
26:58Can you just talk us through that?
27:00Yeah, I think it's important in football.
27:02I feel like as a footballer, you're always sort of in the limelight.
27:05You're always being sort of judged on a lot of things that you do within football and also outside of
27:13football.
27:14So I think it's important that you feel like you can speak freely with different people, whether that is with
27:21family, friends or whoever it may be.
27:24But I think as a footballer, if you can do what you can to put yourself in the right mindset
27:29and to be mentally as secure and stable as possible,
27:34I genuinely feel like that definitely helps with performances.
27:38And for me personally, being able to speak to my friends, family, etc.
27:42I feel like that's helped me be the person and player I am now.
27:48Luiz and then the gentleman behind you.
27:51Luiz first, then you next.
28:03I'll be honest, no different to a normal game.
28:07I think if you get caught up in the moment too much of who you're playing and the occasion, it
28:12can be negative.
28:14So yeah, we've just been preparing as normal, treating it as any other game.
28:19But we know when the kick-off comes tomorrow night, we'll be ready for the game.
28:24Because it's a fine line between being over-sighted up and under-sighted up.
28:28Yeah, 100%. You can use it in both ways. You want to use it to your advantage.
28:34We know that the fans will be behind us right from minute one throughout the whole game.
28:39But yeah, like you said, you don't want to get too carried away and get too ahead of yourselves.
28:44Because sometimes you can get caught up in the moment a little bit,
28:47which can affect maybe performances and things like that.
28:50But yeah, I think we've prepared in the right way and I think we'll find the balance right tomorrow.
29:22yeah, obviously, as I said before we know.
29:25we know the qualities that me and Jamal have. As I said before, it's a team game and they've
29:34got so many talented players in their team. We've obviously analysed them a lot in what
29:41things we need to do to hurt them and how we can prevent them from hurting us. It's
29:48going to be an important balance that we find that tomorrow. We're looking forward to it.
29:57In Spanish as well, please.
30:02The game is played in the Camp Nou with the Barça a favor. How important is it for you to
30:08be able to pass to the final quarter and what happens in the game? How important is it that
30:13tomorrow you get the right advantage of Barcelona?
30:21We obviously know it's going to be really difficult going to their place in a week or
30:27so time. But I think for now there's such an important game tomorrow that we need to purely
30:34just focus on what we can do tomorrow. So when we do go there we can hopefully take a positive
30:40result there and that's what we need to do.
30:46Kieran Kelly, Martin Harding and Daniel Wales, please.
30:48Hi there, so you've previously mentioned that some of the dark days when you first joined
30:52the club. Could you have imagined and I'd like tomorrow night to think about it also?
30:57Yeah, I've obviously been through a journey here at Newcastle. I think when I first signed it was
31:03obviously a difficult period for me. Signing for what I knew was obviously quite a significant
31:09fee at the time considering the amount of football that I'd actually played. I knew the sort of pressure
31:15that came with that but I never sort of didn't believe in myself. I always believed in my own
31:21ability and I had that belief from my teammates, from the coaches as well. But yeah, I think it's
31:28important that I managed to stay strong, work hard every day, did what I can to improve and I think
31:35that put me in a good position last season, which I feel like last season was the turning point for
31:41me
31:41in terms of me as a player and as a person. Obviously it was cut short at the end a
31:45little bit by injury
31:47which was disappointing but I think then having to deal with that obviously made this season
31:52me more motivated than ever to do what I did last season and just improve from there.
31:58So yeah, to now be playing in the round of 16 in the Champions League is incredibly special
32:02considering where I've come from.
32:03You've worked on the defensive side of your game, how much of a help has Jason and the staff been
32:08with that?
32:08Yeah, a massive help. Obviously JT, the gaffer, all the coaches really and all my teammates as well.
32:16There's been a lot of defenders that I've worked with at the club who, when I first joined,
32:23definitely helped me learn the ways that we would defend here.
32:27And I think that was a big area of my game that I needed to improve when I signed.
32:32So yeah, I think I've done that pretty well I'd say in terms of how I've improved and my attitudes.
32:40But yeah, again, I'm still 21, I'm still young, I'm still looking to continue to improve that.
32:45And I think as a team this year, I'd say we probably haven't defended the way we'd like to in
32:50terms of conceding goals.
32:52But yeah, we're looking to improve that now.
32:55Matt and then Daniels finish please.
32:57Hi Lewis, is it right about your dad, your uncle or Newcastle fans?
33:02My dad is, yes.
33:04Was he here in 97 against Barcelona, do you know?
33:08That's a good question, I haven't actually asked him.
33:10I know he obviously knows a lot about the game and whatever, but that will be one to ask him
33:14when I get home today.
33:16What has your development led as a Newcastle player meant to him?
33:20Yeah, it's meant everything really. I think the first couple of months of me being a Newcastle player was a
33:28change to the system for him.
33:29Because obviously he's always proud of me and he's always travelled to watch me play regardless of where I'm playing.
33:36But I think for me to now be playing for a team that he's grew up supporting and he's had
33:41so many highs and lows with, I think, is massive for him.
33:45And to see me playing for Newcastle at the minute every week is obviously something that he's very proud of
33:52me for.
33:53And I'm really grateful that I can let him have these memories.
33:57And how are you coping with the amount of games that you're playing?
34:01Yeah, it's obviously really, really difficult physically, mentally as well.
34:06But I think it can also be a positive.
34:09I think if you're winning games, it's quite easy to maintain that momentum.
34:13Obviously, it's physically incredibly challenging, having to go again and again sometimes.
34:19But I think it can be used as an advantage to build up momentum.
34:23And as well, I think negatively, if you do lose a game, I think it's important that the next game
34:30can come around quickly
34:30so that you can sort of get that bad result or bad performance out your system and sort of start
34:36afresh.
34:37I think it's good in both ways.
34:40Daniel to finish off, please.
34:41Hi, Lewis. Just wondering your development again.
34:44I spoke to you after you played for England in the 21s against Osser in the 21s at the Kenwood
34:47Road.
34:48I think that was in September 2024.
34:50You put him on a match on display then.
34:52And that's less than two years ago.
34:53Since then, you've become a regular starter at Newcastle, despite that injury.
34:57Can you just talk to me about the development and the biggest factors and influences you've had in that short
35:01period
35:01to go from then to now where you've been in this game and perhaps in contention for the World Cup
35:05as well?
35:07Yeah, I think that's the thing with football that I think a lot of people don't see.
35:11You have a lot of highs, you have a lot of lows.
35:12And I think it's important that when you do have the highs, it's important to sort of appreciate it and
35:19be proud of yourself.
35:20But at the same time, not get too ahead of yourself.
35:24And I think it's important that once you've celebrated your achievements, you then get back to sort of being level
35:33-headed
35:33and thinking about what's next and yeah, I think as for the lows, you have a lot of lows in
35:38football.
35:39Everyone throughout their career will have had games or moments where they know that they've not performed very well
35:45or have had to go through an injury or anything like that.
35:48And I think it's important that when you do have these highs and you're in a low, for example, if
35:53you've had an injury,
35:55it's important that you think of the times you've sort of almost been in really good form as an example
36:01and think about that's what you're doing it for and that's what's worth it all in the end.
36:05So yeah, I think football is a massive journey for everyone.
36:10And yeah, I'm really grateful of my journey so far.
36:13And I still feel like there's a lot more to come from me and from this team.
36:18And yeah, we're looking to show that.
36:21Thank you guys.
36:22Nice one. Cheers.
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