It’s come to light that Jamaal Lascelles has been playing a full four months with a hernia problem and has been playing through the pain barrier.
It has been kept quiet by orders of Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez with only the medical staff fully aware of the situation.
He must now undergo a double hernia operation and that will take place immediately, after he has met with a top surgeon following our promotion with a 4-1 home win against Preston last week.
But it shows you the complete confidence Rafa has in his captain, even though Jamaal is still young and lacking experience – but he is picking that up rapidly under the world-class manager.
Jamaal Lascelles – no doubting this lad’s total commitment to Newcastle
The good news is that Jamaal will be fully fit for the start of pre-season on Monday July 3rd.
It’s inspiring to see the courage and commitment of the young captain of Newcastle United.
It makes running through a brick wall look easy.
🙂
Let’s hear it for our captain!
Here’s some typical tweets from the appreciative Newcastle fans when they heard the news today.
So Jamaal Lascelles has been playing for FOUR MONTHS with a double hernia?! THIS is true leadership! OUR CAPTAIN ?? @Lascelles16 @NUFC #NUFC
— Freddie Morton (@TheFatbellyFred) May 1, 2017
Says a lot about what Rafa Benitez thinks about his centre back options if he kept playing Jamaal Lascelles despite his diagnosis #NUFC
— Andrew Musgrove (@ADMusgrove) May 1, 2017
Leader for a reason,played 4 months in agony. Wish you a speedy recovery @Lascelles16 and we will see you in the prem ?!#NUFC
— Lightning (@shawwal_96) May 1, 2017
Captain Fantastic! @Lascelles16 ??#NUFC pic.twitter.com/Ud8mXbTliZ
— Andy (@andylockhart88) May 1, 2017
Been a big critic of @Lascelles16 since December time but what a credit to #nufc you are Captain ? playing through that can’t be easy
— CieranHogg (@cieranhogg) May 1, 2017
Well earned rest for @Lascelles16 , double hernia and not getting it treated for four months must of been agony #nufc
— TalkNUFC (@TalkNUFC1) May 1, 2017
You are a credit to the club @Lascelles16; this is the kind of commitment we want. Enjoy your break and have a deserved rest. #nufc
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) May 1, 2017
9 comments so far
beermonkey
May 2, 2017 at 9:39 AM
Comment #1ww
we did try 3 at the back this season the google master will prob tell us when
cyprus
May 2, 2017 at 9:49 AM
Comment #2I guess it’s fair to say we’ll be doing a bit more defending this year so we’ll need one more defender.
But we need more improvement in other areas I think. A deadly striker and a top attacking MF, for instance.
Blofal
May 2, 2017 at 9:57 AM
Comment #3WWSBRD
Would love to try 3 at the back. Yedlin would be a great wing back. Dummett might lose his place though as we would need some more attack on the left.
And a Back 3 of Mbemba, Clarke and Lascelles wouldn’t do too bad either. Would need to add a couple more centre halves to the squad thought as just a couple of slight strains would result in us having to change formation completely.
TyneMouth
May 2, 2017 at 9:57 AM
Comment #4…3 1 5 1 is the new black, and white!
3 backs
1 defensive midfielder/deep playmaker, a very vocal Captain!
5 midfielders, including 2 wing-backs, an enforcer, a playmaker and a number 10.
1 striker/centre-forward, very fast and active, subbed at 60 minutes by an equally fast clone. A ‘finisher’ in Rugby speak…
Jib
May 2, 2017 at 10:11 AM
Comment #5Tynemouth
You’ve just described Conte’s Chelsea.
Nothing new about it – Bob Moncur often played David Luiz’ role – sweeper/libero – donkeys years ago.
posada
May 2, 2017 at 10:14 AM
Comment #6On Simunovic.
Seems Celtic are doing something right.
Signed him for 3M.
Was that to replace Van Dijk who they signed for 2.3M.
If only we could do likewise.
posada
May 2, 2017 at 10:20 AM
Comment #7Yes, all of these systems have been tried before.
In fact they had all been tried by the late 70’s or before.
Why does one system come in and out of favour. I don’t think it is coaches coming up with something totally new. For me it’s the game that changes. Good pitches, true run of the ball consistently, lighter ball easier to move about, boots that are totally different to just 10 years ago.
All these things I feel tip the balance towards a particular formation or way of playing. Must have the players though.
They say all of these systems are variations of 4/4/2.
Also, some folks forget that this is just the way you line up. It changes constantly and you always have to react to what the other team are doing.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 2, 2017 at 10:22 AM
Comment #8Rafa has flirted with 3 at the back before in games sometimes with us and also at previous clubs usually starts with 4231 but he can change it up!
Once he gets more adaptable players with more quality on the ball I think next season we will have options to counter this 3 at the back trend!
Although its nothing new Italian teams have been doing it for years !
TyneMouth
May 2, 2017 at 10:32 AM
Comment #9Jib @ 4
‘You’ve just described Conte’s Chelsea.’
No shi¿ sherlock!
Try Italian football, late seventies.
‘Libero’, the clues in the name…