Finish the job without me, devastated skipper tells his United team-mates
WE CAN BEAT DROP – LASCELLES
NEWCASTLE United’s injurystricken captain Jamaal Lascelles admits he was “devastated” when learning he could miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture – but insists the team have what it takes to finish the job without him.
Lascelles, who was injured during the battling 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago, is likely to miss the final seven games of the season.
However, he is prepared to patch himself up for the last two games against Fulham and Sheffield United if the stakes are raised in the relegation battle.
Both Lascelles and Steve Bruce would prefer he rests up and returns for pre-season ready to go for the 2021/22 campaign with Newcastle still a Premier League club.
When asked if he felt the team was good enough to beat the drop, Lascelles said: “I’m very confident. We have a lot of experience in the team and obviously some very good players in there.
“You could see our attitude, against Tottenham, the way we kept going and we were still trying to win the game and we were going for it.
“We just have to carry on with the same mentality.”
Lascelles may put the injury down to bad luck after suffering with ankle, thigh, Covid and now foot problems.
Now he must face up to a new injury, but with the skipper currently having his foot in a protective boot, he knows the reality of the situation.
Lascelles reflected: “The rule for these type of injuries is four weeks in a boot and four weeks until you are back on grass.
“But because of the position we are in I said to the medical staff, ‘I’m not ruling out Sheff United or Fulham’ – if needed obviously. “Hopefully we are in a position where we are safe and I’m not needed but I want to do everything I can to make sure I can have that option and be available for that if needed.” Lascelles was desperate to play a part in the run-in, and his towering presence will be missed badly by the Magpies.
Indeed, when heads were down against Wolves and Aston Villa
recently he popped up to score two crucial goals to help salvage two vital top-flight points.
However, he will now be reduced to the role of spectator for the foreseeable future and will be watching on from the stands for the next month or so.
Former Nottingham Forest skipper Lascelles, speaking to Talksport, with Newcastle’s game with West Ham tomorrow featuring on the station, added: “I was devastated.
“When the doctor told me I didn’t think it would be anything like this.
“I thought it was just a bit of foot pain and it would ease off, just resting it.
“When he rang me and told me it was a stress fracture it was probably the worst news I could have had.
“It is a huge time for us with the position we are in with being the captain.
“I wanted us to get points on the board, get us safe and be a part of that.”
You could see our attitude against Tottenham ... we just have to carry on with the same mentality Jamaal Lascelles