"Difficult one" - Michael Owen comparison made over troubled Birmingham City player | OneFootball

George Hall continues to struggle with injuries in his loan spell at League Two leaders Walsall

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

It seems remarkable that only about 18 months ago George Hall was being linked with a move to a number of Premier League sides, and now the attacking midfielder is struggling for game time in League Two.

That is not a question of ability of course, but the fact that his body continues to give out on him, with a hamstring injury suffered while on loan at Walsall in December the latest setback on what was once a promising career.

Those issues have seen him start just four league matches for the fourth-tier leaders so far this season, having made the temporary move from St Andrew’s on transfer deadline day, in the hope of getting regular first-team football.

With his career coming to something of a crossroads, we spoke to Football League World’s resident Birmingham City fan Mike Gibbs about the 20-year-old’s situation, and what he expects the future to hold for the young star.

George Hall concern raised after injury-ravaged season

It was only in the summer of 2023 that Hall was being linked with a move to a number of Premier League sides, with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and West Ham United all said to be interested in the then-teenage talent.

Instead, he signed a new contract with the Midlands side but only went on to make eight substitute appearances in the following campaign, before incoming boss Chris Davies decided to send him out on loan for the current season.

With only 313 minutes of league action under his belt with Walsall this season, hope seems to be running out for a player who was tipped for the top not too long ago, and Gibbs is worried that he will follow in the footsteps of other injury-prone players of the past.

The Blues fan said when asked about the young talent: “I think it is a difficult one with George Hall because he did show a lot of promise but this isn’t the first time he has had injury problems.

“He has always been beset with injury problems, and I think that the most worrying thing is that he has had a number of hamstring injuries, and for a fast player that can be catastrophic.

“We have seen it over the years, I always remember after Michael Owen had his hamstring injuries he was never the same player and always seemed to be picking up injuries. It is almost like the physiological side of him is almost aligned to getting injured.”

George Hall faces big year ahead as Birmingham City contract decision looms

Having signed a three-year deal back in 2023 when the Premier League clubs were interested, Hall’s current deal at St Andrew’s is set to elapse next summer, with current evidence unlikely to see him given an extension to his time in the Midlands.

The next 16 months are going to be crucial in the 20-year-old’s career, with a clean bill of health needed to prove just what he can do when given the opportunity, or face the prospect of dropping down the divisions in order to rebuild his career.

Over the brief glimpses that Gibbs has got to see the playmaker in action, he is undoubted in his quality, but concerns over his ability to play regular football will no doubt effect whether he can make it in the professional game.

He added: “The quality and potential is certainly there, but I just question whether he can really get back to full fitness and stay there.

“I think if he can there is definitely a player there, I would maybe say Championship level, but not Premier League level for me.”