Newcastle United have had an amazing 2023/2024 season as they sit sixth in the Premier League table with 50 points. They are above popular clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United. Jamaal Lascelles, the team’s centre-back and captain has played a key role in their recent performance. His contract at St. James’ Park will expire next year.
The 30-year-old footballer fell awkwardly on March 30 during Newcastle’s match with West Ham in the Magpies. He seemingly twisted his knee and tried to continue playing. But Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager substituted him shortly.
Newcastle United’s Captain’s Injury
Newcastle United released a statement after assessing Lascelles’ right knee saying, “After seeing a specialist consultant he is expected to undergo surgery next week. Everyone at Newcastle United extends their best wishes to Jamaal for a full and speedy recovery.”
Lascelles stated, “Of course, it was difficult to take initially but pretty quickly I came to terms with the situation. I’ve always been quite an upbeat person; the only thing I know is to pick yourself up and get on with it, so that’s where I’m at now. I’ve got a long journey ahead of me but I have a great support team around me, fantastic physios, and plenty of help from within the club, so I know I’m in good hands.
For the first 20 seconds after going down, I felt pain but after that, it more or less went and I thought maybe it was just a bone-on-bone impact injury. I got up, had a little jog and it didn’t feel too bad. I didn’t feel it pop or anything like that – but when I went back on, I knew something wasn’t right.
I genuinely didn’t expect it to be anything like an ACL, though until the scan confirmed the full extent of the injury. Clearly, that was hard news to receive, but it’s just part of being an athlete.”
Lascelles’ Knee Surgery
Newcastle’s captain had a successful surgery but won’t play for the next six to nine months. He stated, “The operation went well and I’m up and about, weight-bearing and looking to get off crutches and start work in the gym very soon. To everyone who’s messaged me – and even people who haven’t – I hugely appreciate all the love and support and I can’t wait to get back next season.”
His Leadership at Newcastle United
Lascelles joined Newcastle United in 2014 and has always been committed to winning games since then. He has worked with five managers, remaining loyal to them despite the club being relegated to the EFL Championship in the 2016/2017 season. Eddie Howe retained Lascelles as the captain when Newcastle hired him in 2021.
Kieran Trippier occasionally has the armband when Lascelles is on the bench. Howe praised the captain in a recent interview, “I just want to say, with Jamaal in this group he has been an unbelievable captain.
Captaincy does not just exist on the pitch, it has to exist off it as well. The two things are so intrinsically linked so a lot of our success last year came down to a group of players giving everything on and off the pitch.”
Read more from Edward and other great writers! Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we do several shows daily. Make sure you follow us on NewsBreak as well.
