Towering show has Lascelles leaping into the England picture
CONSISTENCY IS NAME OF GAME NOW FOR TOON SKIPPER
CRIES for an England call-up may be premature – Jamaal Lascelles must first establish himself as a consistent Premier League performer before such honours come his way – but the Newcastle United captain embodies everything the Magpies will need in order to enjoy a successful campaign back in the top flight.
Rafa Benitez was unable to overhaul the Newcastle squad as extensively as he had desired during the summer window, meaning organisation, defensive solidity and ruthless counter-attacking are going to be the modus operandi for United this term.
Such a formula requires a solid and dependable centre-back pairing - in Lascelles and Ciaran Clark Newcastle appear to have that right now.
It is remarkable to think, when considered in the context of Lascelles’ man-of-the-match display at the Liberty Stadium, the 23-yearold did not even begin the season in the Newcastle first XI.
Summer signing Florian Lejeune was first choice alongside Clark for the opening-day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, only to limp off injured. Less than a month on and already it appears the Frenchman will have to be content with a place on the bench for the next few weeks at least.
Given Benitez’s preference to pair a leftfooter alongside a right-footed centre-back whenever possible, Clark is possibly first choice in the heart of United’s defence – something he also merits on form.
Then either Lascelles or Lejeune will slip in at right-centre-back.
Right now, Lascelles is making that position his own.
As the youngest captain in the Premier League, Lascelles has added responsibility too, but he is very much taking that within his stride. The United skipper was colossal at the Liberty – Clark was also very impressive alongside – and Lascelles was undoubtedly man of the match. Take away one hairy moment in the first half when he fell over and almost handled the ball in his area and the skipper was exemplary. His defensive team-mates bailed Lascelles out on that occasion but then the skipper more than atoned for his momentary lapse in concentration with a sublime second-half display. First of all, he kept Newcastle level with a tremendous last-ditch sliding challenge to clear Tammy Abraham’s goalbound shot after the Swans forward had rounded
Jamie Redknapp
Rob Elliot and passed towards an empty net.
Lascelles showed real determination to make up ground – he conceded after the game he felt responsible for allowing Abraham to ghost in behind after being caught ball watching, though Javier Manquillo was also culpable – and threw himself towards the goalbound shot, ensuring his body prevented it from crossing the line.
It kept the scoreline level – and ultimately changed the course of the game.
Then, in the 76th minute, Lascelles rose unmarked from six yards out to power an unstoppable header past Lukasz Fabianski and give Newcastle the lead.
Lascelles, at fully 6ft 2in, somehow managed to leap three feet off the ground before heading home – something opposite number Alfie Mawson had failed to do in the first half from a similar, if not
He admitted he let Abraham in. With this willingness to learn from his mistakes, he can go right to the top
arguably even easier, position. Lascelles made no such mistake. After being surrounded by his team-mates, Lascelles then ran back into his own half and fistpumped towards the travelling Toon Army, screaming: “Come on!” He repeated the clarion call after the full-time whistle too, making his appreciation of the Magpies away support obvious. Lascelles’ very place in the side was in doubt a few weeks ago but on the evidence of this performance there is simply no justification to remove him from the starting XI.
There have even been noises made from some supporters – of both Newcastle and rival clubs – that Lascelles could find himself in the England squad in the coming months.
Three Lions’ manager Gareth Southgate was at St James’ Park for the West Ham United victory, when Lascelles impressed again, but the Newcastle captain must perform consistently over a far longer stretch for United in the Premier League before national honours come calling.
The mere fact there is such a dearth of young English talent coming through, particularly in the central-defensive department, means his name will rightly be mentioned in the national-squad debate.
He has picked up admirers already for his performances so far this season. Jamie Redknapp, writing in his column in The Daily
Mail, said of Lascelles: “What impressed me was how he admitted it was his own bad defending which let Abraham in.
“At 23, Lascelles is the youngest captain in the league. With this willingness to learn from his mistakes he can go right to the top.”
Again, such predictions are overhasty. Lascelles will know that, and Benitez will ensure his captain maintains his focus and delivers for Newcastle on a regular basis first and foremost.
If he does that, then international honours will inevitably follow.