‘The boys won’t let that happen’ – Lascelles delivers warning to Newcastle new recruits
By Abigail Withey
Newcastle centre-back Jamaal Lascelles has said that his fellow teammates’ attitude has majorly improved since the club were last in the Premier League and has warned any new signings that he won’t let them change that.
The 23-year-old spoke frankly about his club’s efforts last time the Tyneside squad were in the top flight after he stated that his teammates needed more desire to succeed.
His harsh words saw the defender become popular with supporters and boss Rafa Benitez, and the former England Under-21 was awarded with the captain’s armband for their return to the Championship.
Under Lascelles’ leadership, the team soared to the top of the Championship table and back into the Premier League.
Now, the centre-back has spoken about the difference in attitude and mentioned the importance of a strong relationship between teammates.
He said: “There’s a massive difference. I’m not going to sit here and slate the players that were here before, but maybe they didn’t have that heart which you needed to have at that time.”
“I think togetherness and being a team is so important in football,” he told The Sun. “And that’s exactly what we are now.”
The Newcastle skipper went on to say that he won’t let any new signings affect the mentality the squad have developed.
“It’s important that we keep that,” he explained. “So whoever we bring in, their attitude has got to be right.”
“If I see it’s not, I’ll tell them or I’ll pull them to one side and say ‘Listen’.
“Players can affect how a team is, but the boys won’t let that happen.
“If someone was to come into this team, they’d have to do it the way we do it.”
New recruits Mikel Merino, Jacob Murphy, Florian Lejeune, Javier Manquillo and former loan star Christian Atsu will be under close scrutiny from fans and Lascelles alike as the Premier League gets underway.
After initially growing through the ranks at Nottingham Forest, the skipper has shown passion and drive since moving to Newcastle in 2014.
His fire and determination to succeed is unusual in such a young defender, which is ultimately why he was handed the armband from Bentitez last season.
Newcastle face Tottenham at St James’ Park next weekend in their Premier League opener and will be hoping to snatch three points from the previous season’s runners up.
In other Newcastle transfer news, this Championship hitman would push the Toon to Premier League survival next season.
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