Champions League nights are coming back to St James’ Park this week as Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe roll into town to take on Newcastle United.
Newcastle club captain Jamaal Lascelles is in line to face-off against one of the world’s best strikers due to an injury to Sven Botman.
Lascelles started his first Premier League game in 19 months at the weekend, so he is as shocked as anyone that he’s now in-line to face off against Kylian Mbappe.
Jamaal Lascelles has banned himself from TikTok
Nobody needs reminding how dangerous Mbappe can be, but just in case, Lascelles has taken an odd step to ensure he’s not reminded too much.
In an interview with The Mirror, the 29-year-old has said he’s banned himself from TikTok to avoid seeing too much of the France international.
“Have I studied him?’, said Lascelles. “I already know how he plays because he has so many clips on TikTok! You see them all the time! Everytime I look.
“You want to play against him. It is something I dream of. There won’t be sleepless nights. It is just a massive opportunity for us. But I will stay off TikTok for a few days. He is probably the best player in the world. We have to be professional and get the job done.”
“I never dreamed of playing in the Champions League with Newcastle, because we were always in relegation battles and it has always been tough. Since the takeover and the manager coming in it has given us hope. Until then I never thought about it. It was unrealistic, wasn’t it?
“It is exciting times for everyone involved. We don’t know what the team will be for PSG but we will all be ready and raring to go.”
Wednesday will be Lascelles’ biggest game for Newcastle
Jamaal Lascelles facing of against Kylian Mbappe would have had fans petrified at the thought not so long ago, but every time he’s come in for Eddie Howe he’s looked solid.
Maybe this will be the game where he proves that he’s still worthy of sticking around at Newcastle after so many people suggesting he’s not good enough for the current standard – and I include myself in that group.
Hopefully he will prove us doubters wrong on Wednesday night and keep Mbappe in his pocket all night.
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