Newcastle could be blocked from permanent Chelsea deal despite obligation to buy

The Magpies signed Hall on loan from the Blues in the summer with an obligation to buy worth £28million, with a further £7m in add-ons.

However, that will only become active after a certain amount of appearances are made by the 19-year-old for the Toon outfit this season.

Hall has made just six appearances for Newcastle so far in all competitions, prompting talk that he could return to Chelsea next summer.

And when asked about the England Under-21 international's situation on Friday, Howe replied: "You're probably asking the wrong man, I'm not 100 per cent sure."

At this point, a club official intervened when Howe was asked if Hall would be a Newcastle player past the current season.

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The Toon boss continued: "It's not [my decision].

"For me, he's here now, he's a Newcastle player. But I think there's certain criteria he has to meet."

Newcastle have suffered an injury crisis with several key players missing, but Hall's first-team chances have not improved.

The left-back - who started his career in midfield - was an up-and-coming talent at Chelsea before the decision was made to loan him out.

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Howe added: "Lewis is a really talented player. He has huge technical qualities.

"He is creative and has very good final delivery. He's a really good attacking full-back.

"He's got certain things to learn defensively, which we're working on with him.

"But he's a young age and also recently converted to a left-back.

"There needs to be a little bit of understanding that he may take a little bit of time to get the defensive solidity that we're looking for, but he's a player of such high promise."