Newcastle United are on a massive high at the moment. The Geordies have won their last three games in the Premier League and have risen from the relegation zone to 13th in the table for their good form. However, they’ve managed to do so without relying on their skipper, Jamaal Lascelles.
Thinking of a Lascelles, Fernandez and Lejeune back three on this cold and wet Tuesday night. pic.twitter.com/NhkKCJsebq
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) November 27, 2018
Lascelles has featured in ten of Newcastle’s 13 games this season, playing 90 minutes in all of those barring their first win of the season at home to Watford a few weeks ago, where he was hooked at half-time. However, it’s looking more and more likely that the club can get by without the 25-year-old, and with the current form of both Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez, it looks like Lascelles will be Rafa Benitez’s 4th choice when Florian Lejeune returns.
This time last year you’d have been laughed at by a Newcastle fan if you were to tell them that Lascelles would be their fourth choice in November 2018, but football’s a funny game in that way. The Magpies’ skipper was left out of the squad for both of their last two wins against Bournemouth and Burnley and he was previously left out against Chelsea back in August after a dispute with Benitez over being deployed in a back three.
You can see what The Geordies have to say about Lascelles here:
Schär ahead of Lascelles at the moment imho, he's be incredible!
— Kev Davis (@kev_davis86) November 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/GeordieRobM/status/1067515453386473472
@gazirving1980 check the comments… ppl coming around to Lascelles 4th choice
— Rob Richardson (@RobRichardson28) November 27, 2018
A back three have all got to be comfortable and able to play out. Lascelles cant which is reason he didn’t go to the World Cup! Schar been great the last couple of games and Fernandez brilliant since coming in.
— Craig Scott (@Scottie1605) November 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/haddon_mike/status/1067522454267068418
Hasn't lascelles been dropped already once this season for refusing to play on the right of a back 3?
— Dicky (@Dicky0130) November 27, 2018
Can’t leave out Schar after the last 3 games.
Ideal formation would be 3 at back but…
Fernandez in middle flanked by Lejeune on the left and Schar on the right.
— The NUFC Optimist (@Optimistoon) 27 November 2018
Lascelles has suffered a real fall from grace this season, but the fans will hope he can come good and get back into Benitez’s starting eleven.
