Jamaal Lascelles has been pictured in training ahead of Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth.
The captain came off at half time against Everton, being replaced by Paul Dummett. Rafa Benitez cited a knee injury as the reason Lascelles was withdrawn, and it appeared to be quite a blow in the aftermath of the dramatic comeback.
Fabian Schar picked up his 10th yellow card of the season after hurling the ball into the ground like a child after a decision went against him. That means he’ll miss the trips to Bournemouth and Arsenal.
Schar’s suspension combined with a Lascelles injury severely worsened Benitez’s defensive options, but pictures from training on Wednesday suggest that the skipper might not be out of action.
Lascelles trains ahead of Bournemouth
The 25-year-old can be seen taking part in training with his teammates, with Mo Diame and Joselu clearly enjoying themselves.
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You can also spot Ciaran Clark. The former Aston Villa man has been out of action due to injury, with his last appearance coming in the FA Cup defeat to Watford. Clark was an unused substitute against Tottenham, which was the last time he featured in a match day squad.
As for Lascelles, his appearance in training is a welcome boost.
With Schar already ruled out, Benitez couldn’t really afford to lose another centre-back.
Whether he is fit to play remains to be seen, but seeing the defender in training is certainly positive.