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SKIPPER Jamaal Lascelles has urged Newcastle fans to lay off Mike Ashley and rally round Rafa Benitez’s struggling side instead.

The Toon Army want owner Ashley to sell up. But Lascelles wants an end to the “bad energy” which has engulfed the club’s season. Asked for his thoughts on protests and the threat of a fans’ boycott, Lascelles said: “It doesn’t help.

“We are footballers, we concentrate on our jobs and try to be as RAHEEM STERLING was all smiles last night after agreeing a bumper new Manchester City deal worth a staggering £72m.

But it was a different story for Belgian superstar Kevin De Bruyne as he limped off as City reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

England ace Sterling is close to signing a five-year contract worth £300,000-a-week that will make him one of he highest-paid stars in Premier League history.

He watched from the bench as his side cruised past Fulham 2-0 to earn a quarter-final tie with Leicester or Southampton thanks to two goals from Spanish kid Brahim Diaz, 19.

But another good day for Pep Guardiola’s men was marred by the injury to De Bruyne, who left clutching his knee five minutes from time.

Sterling’s representatives have spent the last two months negotiating with City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain and he is expected to put pen to paper within two weeks.