Being a father and footballer is tough but I’m working on it
NEW DAD LASCELLES ON HIS TEETHING TROUBLES
JAMAAL Lascelles has revealed this has been his toughest season at Newcastle United after becoming a father for the first time.
The Toon skipper admits his form wasn’t up to standard in the first half of the season and says that sleepless nights and a change of routine resulted in unwanted injuries.
Last season proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions for Lascelles after he learned he was due to become a dad but the 25-year-old is now settled again and keen to rediscover the form that once resulted in calls for an England cap.
Lascelles’ life changed forever when little Jamari Rai arrived into the world back in September but now he has a double aim for his family.
In an exclusive Sunday Sun interview, Lascelles sat down and lifted the lid on the adjustment period that all new dads will be able to relate to.
Lascelles said: “For a sportsman, becoming a father for the first time is always a difficult time. The first two or three months are always difficult.
“Especially because you don’t know what it is about. You can’t get on with your normal routine.
“Before you’d go home and have a nap or watch a movie. You can’t do any of that because it is, rightly, all about the baby.
“I did struggle at the start because I was trying to find the balance between being the best at my job and try to be an amazing dad too.
“With sportsmen, you physically can’t always be an amazing dad. I am captain of Newcastle United and I was trying to do too much. My partner has been fantastic.
“I try to be with him during the day, play with him, and feed him. My partner knows she has a big role to play and we work well.
“It was difficult to find the balance but now we have it right.”
Lascelles found himself out of the side at the start of the season as he waited nervously for his son to arrive but then he started to feel the pace of life as a parent.
He added: “My own dad tells me that a sportsman’s sleep is so important.
“In an office job you might be able to get away with staying up all night and feeding the baby.
“Nobody is judging you or your performance. You won’t pull your hamstring because of a lack of sleep.
“Whereas a footballer has a lot on the line when it comes to sleep deprivation.
“Even if your mind isn’t in the right place, it affects you.
“It affected me as I was getting a lot of injuries, muscle injuries that I never get. It was due to a lack of sleep. My mind wasn’t in the right place. I was arguing with some players too.
“Now it is completely different, the little man is five months and we have a nanny in to help us out.
“My partner has been amazing for the whole duration. As a father, I want to help as much as I can as she carried the baby for nine months.
“I look at my own dad and try to be like he is. I have the balance now and I know what needs to be done to focus on my job but also be there to support my partner and son.”
Lascelles will now spend two days off with his partner and son following United’s boot camp in Spain.
He did find himself in another bust-up with one of his team-mates at the end of the 1-1 draw with