No guarantees on the skipper’s starting place

RAFA Benitez insists no Newcastle United player is automatically guaranteed a start – including captain Jamaal Lascelles.

Rather, the Magpies manager will only select in-form players or those he believes are best suited to each individual game.

Following a month-long injury lay-off, Lascelles returned to the United side at Goodison Park earlier this month and impressed as Newcastle returned to Tyneside with a draw.

However, the 25-year-old then struggled during last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers when he was caught out for both of the opposition’s goals.

Although Benitez admits so far this term Lascelles has failed to reach the performance levels he showed last season which led to calls from some fans for the centreback to receive England recognition, the United manager is adamant his skipper will improve in the coming weeks.

When he was asked if he was concerned by Lascelles’ form, the Spaniard said: “I would like to see every player playing well but sometimes when you have a bad game it is just to analyse how you played and what you can do.

“I think he has reacted really well this week.

“He was trying to pay attention to little things in training.

“Normally when you have players who know they have done little things wrong and know they are not playing at the level they are usually playing they have to pay attention to little details which can give them the confidence back.

“I think we were all a little upset after the Wolves game but we just have to be sure we cannot make these kind of mistakes again and we get back to playing well like we have been.”

Part of the reason why Lascelles is a far-from guaranteed starter is Newcastle arguably boast the greatest strength in depth at centre-back.

Although Federico Fernandez is ruled out of today’s trip to Huddersfield, Fabian Schar is available again following suspension while Ciaran Clark has also performed well and Florian Lejeune is on the way back.