Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles has admitted being named captain of the Magpies by Rafa Benitez has proved a challenge, but he feels the Spaniard has helped him keep a level head.
The former Nottingham Forest player only established himself in the first team mid way through last season, but at 22 years of age, Benitez placed trust in the centre back, and gave him the captain’s armband.
Talking to the Chronicle about the challenges of being captain at a young age, Lascelles said:
“I am young to be captain of such a big club. I know that. But we’ve got a really good team. Everyone supports each other. There are three of four big characters in there that help me. The manager really trusts me. I’ve got a good relationship with him, so it’s not been as hard as maybe I thought it would have been. But I just want to get the job done and keep on winning games.”
Despite making some errors this season, the defender has been an ever-present in Newcastle’s side as they challenge for promotion. His partnership with Ciaran Clark has proven to be the most secure in the whole division, with the Magpies conceding just 33 times in 40 league games this season. He will certainly want to continue keeping things tight at the back so his side can ensure promotion back to Premier League.
