Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles has told NUFC.co.uk how after having initially sustained a groin injury six months ago, he could barely run or kick a football with his left foot.
After talking to the medical team, it was decided that rather than undergoing a hernia operation to fix the problem which would have meant an absence of up to a month, he decided to continue playing with the injury, managing the pain and working in the gym to reduce its effects:
“Five or six months ago, I started feeling my groin. I thought it was a bit of tightness, or whatever, but I was really struggling with it. Every day in training, I’d probably train at about 50% – I couldn’t really run, or use my left foot…”
“I’ve had a gym programme for four or five months now – you can’t heal it, but you can manage it by doing that. I’ve focused on that every day. I’ve probably not helped myself this season, in some areas, but that’s the sacrifice you make, and I’m willing to make it.”
Lascelles was criticised by some for his performances over the last few months but it seems clear now that he was actually having to play with an injury which can be particularly painful and debilitating.
Newcastle fans will just be glad that the injury didn’t impact his performances that much, and that he can now get the treatment he needs in order to be 100% fit for the start of the Premier League season.
