Micah Richards Praises “Intelligent” Newcastle Star Ahead Of Tyne-Wear Derby

Former Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards has singled out Newcastle’s Lewis Hall for praise ahead of Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.

Newcastle travel to arch rivals Sunderland in what is the pick pf this weekend’s Premier League games.

Sunday’s clash at the Stadium of Light promises to be a cracker, with just one point separating the two sides.

Surprisingly, it’s newly-promoted Sunderland that sit higher in the table.

The Black Cats have made a superb start to life back in the top flight.

But it’s Newcastle that remain slight favourites to take all three points.

And former Premier League winner Micah Richards has singled out one member of Eddie Howe’s squad for praise ahead of the weekend.

Micah Richards Praises Newcastle’s Lewis Hall Ahead Of Derby Day

Twenty-one-year-old defender Lewis Hall joined Newcastle from Chelsea in 2023.

Signed on an initial loan deal, the Magpies had an obligation to make the deal permanent a year later.

The England under-21 international has gone from strength to strength at St. James’ Park, and has earned the plaudits of ex-Manchester City star Richards.

You’re my super Lewis Hall pic.twitter.com/8gyoFLSF6k

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 10, 2025

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Richards said: “I really like Hall at Newcastle. I really like him.

“I think he started in midfield as well when they got him from Chelsea?

“Yeah, if I remember correctly and I remember I was doing one of the games and after the game he said he’s normally a midfielder but to go out at left back, but he’s so intelligent you know and when he goes forward he goes forward with conviction and has quality at the end of it as well. So I really like him.”

When Was The Last Tyne-Wear Derby?

Hall, along with his teammates, will need to be on top form this weekend.

Newcastle’s away form has been dreadful, and they head to a hostile Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby for almost a decade.

The two North East rivals last met in the FA Cup third round in January 2024, with Newcastle winning 3-0.

But they have not crossed paths in the league since Newcastle’s relegation in 2016, with Sunderland relegated the following season as Newcastle bounced straight back up.

It’s been a far longer road for Sunderland back to the big time, but they finally won promotion via the play-offs last season.

It’s Wear-Tyne derby week #SUNNEW pic.twitter.com/ju3aFxpdzU

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 8, 2025

But despite Newcastle’s higher league position in recent times, it’s Sunderland who have had the better of things when they have met.

Prior to the FA Cup clash, Sunderland were unbeaten against Newcastle in the previous nine games, winning six.

Newcastle’s last league victory against their rivals was back in 2011, when they recorded a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light in August.

Eddie Howe and his team will be hoping for a repeat result this weekend, but Sunderland will pose a huge challenge given their current form.

If Newcastle are going to win, they will need players like Lewis Hall to show the kind of form that’s earned him such high praise this week.