....It’s my decision that he needs to stay"- Frank Lampard confirms he blocked Chelsea full-back's U20 World Cuphelsea's caretaker manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that it was his decision to block Lewis Hall's call-up to the England U20 squad for the U20 FIFA World Cup.



On May 10, the Three Lions' released the list of the 21 players who will represent the country at the U20 World Cup in Argentina. Their campaign will start with a group game against Tunisia U20 on May 22 - six days before Chelsea's season comes to a close.

Hall was a notable absentee from the list, while his club teammates Carney Chukwuemeka, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Harvey Vale and Bashir Humphreys (on loan at Paderborn) made the list. The highly versatile 18-year-old has registered three goals and four assists in 18 Premier League 2 appearances this term.Hall primarily plays as a left-back but can play anywhere down the left flank as well as in midfield. He would have been a useful asset for Ian Foster at the U20 World Cup, but Lampard has stopped that from happening. At his pre-match press conference, Lampard said (via BBC):

"It’s my decision that he needs to stay with us for the four games. We’ve obviously got injuries to both our left-backs, and that leaves us in a position where we want and need Lewis. Lewis has a chance (to play for the senior team)."