Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles will be available for the Magpies’ clash with Arsenal on Monday night, according to manager Rafa Benitez.
The centre-back was forced off at half time against Everton earlier this month, and missed the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth prior to the international break.
But the £40,000-a-week [Spotrac] ace has been training well, and Benitez is feeling positive over his availability.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday, as quoted by the Chronicle (13.45), he said: “With the game being a Monday we have extra time for players returning.
“It’s difficult to get players ready for a Saturday, so they should be fine. Lascelles has been training & should be fine.”
OPINION
What a welcome boost this will be for Newcastle United and their fans. Lascelles has been a colossus at the back in recent weeks, and having him back in the side will surely provide an added steel that could be vital against a side of Arsenal’s attacking talents. The Gunners pose a real threat, and the Magpies won’t fancy their chances too highly on Monday night, but if they have their captain and leader marshalling things at the back, they stand a much better chance of causing a real upset. The Toon Army have undergone quite the transformation in recent weeks, and that has been built largely on the foundation of a solid and dependable three at the back. Lascelles is in many ways the lynchpin of that trio, and knowing that he should be available for the trip down to North London on Monday night will fill everybody associated with the club with a real sense of cautious optimism.
