Lascelles in a fight to keep place

JAMAAL Lascelles admits he must perform to his very best if he is to ensure he starts regularly for Newcastle United following the “fantastic” performances delivered by his fellow centrebacks.

The Magpies’ captain missed a month due to a shoulder problem before returning to skipper United to a welcome 1-1 draw against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.

In Lascelles’ absence, summer signings Federico Fernandez and Fabian Schar established an encouraging partnership at the heart of United’s backline, while Ciaran Clark also impressed when playing in a three-man centraldefence at Turf Moor last month.

With Florian Lejeune also pencilled in for a pre-Christmas return, centre-back is the position in which Newcastle appear to have the greatest strength in depth.

Lascelles himself put in a positive display during his return on Merseyside in a five-man defence and accepts he must maintain such standards if he is to keep his place in the side particularly if Rafa Benitez opts to revert to a flat back four against Wolves at St James’ Park on Sunday.

Lascelles said: “There is loads of competition in my area of the pitch and it is so important we have that because it pushes you to train harder and try to keep your spot.

“The boys who have filled in have done fantastic.

“Schar has stepped in when I have not been playing and he has put us some points on the board.

“That is exactly what it is about - it is about our squad as a whole, and not just about the first XI.

“It is a long season, we will have knocks now and again, so we need players to be ready for when they are called upon.

“A few have stepped in recently and done fantastically well, so it is more for the manager to think about selection-wise.”

Schar picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign on Wednesday, meaning the Switzerland defender is banned for this weekend’s clash.

Lascelles, therefore, is likely to retain his place in the side and, with his shoulder injury having fully healed, the 25-year-old is now focusing on regaining full match sharpness by getting minutes into his legs.

He said: “As players, you are going to get knocks here and there but the physios have done a good job to get me back.”