The Brazilian adventure for Northern Ireland defender Jamal Lewis looks to be over after just three months.
Lewis stunned the football world in September when he joined Sao Paulo on loan from Newcastle United until June 2025 with an option to make the move permanent but an ankle injury has led to him returning to England with suggestions that he will need surgery.
The hope in the Northern Ireland camp is that the 26-year-old left-back will be recovered by March when the World Cup qualifiers are set to begin, though reports in Brazil say he is unlikely to play again for São Paulo which will leave his club career in limbo.
Speaking in September while on international duty, Lewis outlined how excited he was by the challenge of playing in South America, stating “hopefully this is a long journey with Sao Paulo”.
He added: “Some people probably thought the move was random and out of the blue and I can’t argue with that. Being a British player I always played in England as most do, but I’ve always expressed an interest in playing abroad.
“When this came up I thought it was the opportunity and I grabbed it.”
Lewis played just six times for the famous Brazilian side this year, three from the start and three as a substitute, creating one goal in that time.
With Sao Paulo’s 2024 campaign over, they won’t be back in action until the middle of January next year with speculation in Brazil that they are planning to sign a new left-back.
Sao Paulo Sporting Director Carlos Belmonte said recently that should the player require surgery he would go back to England and undergo his recovery there.
Lewis made the decision to move on loan to Sao Paulo in what was the final year of his contract at Newcastle who he joined from Norwich City in 2020 having previously been linked with a transfer to Liverpool.
The Northern Ireland ace made 36 competitive appearances for the Magpies but wasn’t a regular with injuries not helping his cause.
When fit, Lewis, who was on loan at Watford last season, is consistently selected in international squads by Michael O’Neill but Brodie Spencer seems to be ahead of him now as a left wing-back.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers takes place in Switzerland on Friday with Northern Ireland looking for a favourable group.
It is expected there will be five teams in it and O’Neill’s side cannot draw the Republic of Ireland or Scotland because they are all Pot Three nations.