Eddie Howe will now be putting the finishing touches to his Newcastle United team for tonight’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Magpies are back, and European nights are returning to St James’ Park. This will be Newcastle’s first home game in the Champions League for 20 years, and what an opponent to mark such a special occasion.
Kylian Mbappe is in town, as he and his PSG teammates look to build on an impressive start to their European campaign. While Newcastle drew 0-0 with AC Milan, Luis Enrique’s side were beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
PSG have an incredible amount of attacking talent, but they will also face a team that has kept five consecutive clean sheets.
Mbappe will have to get the best of Kieran Trippier if he is to succeed at St James’ Park. And if he gets past the England international, the next player who will be waiting for him will be Jamaal Lascelles.
Jamaal Lascelles to start in the Champions League against PSG
That is because it has been reported that Lascelles is going to start the crucial Champions League contest following Sven Botman’s injury.
Lascelles has started Newcastle’s previous two games, having come back into the side for the Carabao Cup win over Manchester City. The 29-year-old was excellent that night, with Howe describing his performance as ‘really good‘.
He will have to be even better tonight, as Sky Sports’ Keith Downie believes that he is going to retain his place in the starting XI due to Botman missing out.
Downie has told Sky Sports News: “The club captain Jamaal Lascelles is likely to come in. He’s back in from the cold. Of course he did start against Manchester City last week in the Carabao Cup – there he is leading the group out [for training]. Club captain, of course he is. He’s played so little football in the last year or so. But he will come in and captain the side in the absence of Sven Botman.”
The Newcastle captain deserves this opportunity
It is going to be a big ask for Lascelles. He has not played regularly since Eddie Howe’s formative months as manager. Now he is going to start against PSG in the Champions League.
But it is a tremendous moment for him. Lascelles has been on quite the journey with the Magpies.
He stood up and called out senior pros when they weren’t delivering, and was then made club captain at the age of 23 by Rafa Benitez. The centre-back has battled through some tough times on Tyneside, but has played a limited role on the pitch during Newcastle’s resurgence.
But he has been an important figure off the pitch, and is now going to get a major chance on it.
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