Jamaal Lascelles has assured fans the team spirit within Newcastle United right now is far better than it was the last time the Toon Army were playing Premier League football.
Indeed, the 23-year-old was part of the 2015-16 side that sleepwalked their way to relegation after a miserable period for the Magpies, infamously criticising other players in the dressing room after a dismal 3-1 loss to Southampton back in April 2016.
Lascelles was then awarded captaincy by Rafa Benitez, who rebuilt the club in the second tier of English football and led them to the Championship title in a champagne campaign on Tyneside.
A popular – albeit inconsistent – figure with the fans, the former Nottingham Forest man is growing into his role with the armband in black and white. Finally, the St. James’ Park crowd have a skipper they can speak to, unlike his predecessor Fabricio Coloccini, who seemingly gave up years before his actual departure.
Speaking in a lengthy interview with the Sun, Lascelles has insisted the mood within camp is entirely different to the last time Newcastle United were plying their trade in the top tier.
”There’s a massive difference”, he said.
“I’m not going to sit here and slate the players that were here before, but maybe they didn’t have that heart which you needed to have at that time.
“I think togetherness and being a team is so important in football and that’s exactly what we are now.
“It’s important that we keep that, so whoever we bring in, their attitude has got to be right.
“If I see it’s not, I’ll tell them or I’ll pull them to a side and say ‘Listen’.
“Players can affect how a team is, but the boys won’t let that happen.”
Whether or not Lascelles gets in the team at the moment is up for debate, with 80% of our readers not backing him to start in the season opener against Tottenham Hotspur next week, though few would doubt his leadership qualities continue to improve.
Thoughts?
