Jamal Lewis is now back in a "good place" after nine months of injury agony at Newcastle United.
The full-back has already had a positive week after being named in Eddie Howe's 25-man squad for the first half of the Premier League and has now been called up by Northern Ireland as he bids to add to his 23 caps for his country in UEFA Nations League games at home to Kosovo and away to Greece.
Lewis was not included in the Newcastle squad last season for the second half of the campaign after picking up groin and hamstring injuries. But unlike Jeff Hendrick and Ciaran Clark, Lewis has stayed on at United and been handed another opportunity to impress.
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This Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough caught up with left-back Lewis and felt he was ready to show exactly what he can do for club and country.
Baraclough said: "Having spoken to him he is in a good place fitness wise. I think it can worry a player when you keep picking up these niggles and you are going to have procedures on them.
"It puts doubt in your mind and Jamal has gone through quite a bit over the last year to fight to regain his fitness. This has been over a period where a new manager has come into his club in Eddie Howe.
"That all plays on the mind if you are not quite right. "Jamal is in a much stronger position. I know he has been named in the 25-man squad for Newcastle in the Premier League. So he will be looking to get his opportunities with his club. He will come to us in a different frame of mind."
Lewis made his return to first-team action for Newcastle after a second half appearance in the 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup. And he will be eager to return to action in the Premier League for the first-time since the defeat at Liverpool in late 2021.
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