Jamaal Lascelles is set to make his first Newcastle appearance since the start of November.
The skipper has been out of action since the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, limping off after a collision with his own teammate Martin Dubravka. That doesn’t tell the full story, as he received a nudge from Cherries striker Callum Wilson, forcing him into the goalkeeper.
In recent weeks we’ve missed Lascelles badly. We haven’t looked as solid at the back, giving away cheap goals aplenty over Christmas.
But with Lascelles back, we should be able to get back to our best defensively. While some fans don’t believe he gets in our best starting XI, his quality is there for all to see when he’s missing.
Federico Fernandez has done an excellent job in his place, but Lascelles certainly adds something extra at the back.
According to the Northern Echo, he’ll start the FA Cup replay against Rochdale. If he can get through the game unscathed, hopefully he’ll feature against Chelsea at the weekend.
Regardless, some fans are very excited for his return on Tuesday.
Newcastle fans have missed Lascelles
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