Newcastle United hero offers his strong feelings towards faltering forward
By Russell Edge
Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles has said that summer signing Joselu has been “great” for the Magpies since arriving at the club.
The Spanish striker joined up with Rafael Benitez’s side in a £5million deal from Premier League rivals Stoke City, and enjoyed a bright start to his career in black and white.
He scored his first goal in the 3-0 dismantling of West Ham earlier this season, and has been entrusted to lead the line ahead of last season’s top scorer Dwight Gayle.
However, Saturday saw him falter in front of goal against his former side, as he missed three clear cut opportunities which put the Magpies’ under pressure.
However Lascelles was the Toon Army’s hero for the second match in a row as he scored the match winning goal from a Matt Ritchie corner, just as he had done against Swansea a week previously.
After the match, it was reported that the Spanish striker embraced his captain and told the former Nottingham Forest man “you saved me”, and Lascelles states he would have done the same thing if the tables had been turned.
He told the Chronicle: “If it was down the other end and I’d let a goal in and he went down the other end and scored, I’d have gone up to him and said the same.
“He knows he should have put a couple away, but it’s no different from one of us losing the ball or not making a block at the back.
“It’s what team-mates are for – good team-mates get each other out.”
However, despite passing up a handful of goal scoring opportunities, the club captain strongly feels that the club have got their hands on a top striker, and says he has been impressed with the 27-year-old’s effort up front.
“He’s done a great job for us. He keeps trying,” he told the Chronicle.
“He held the ball up well, he kept finding himself in dangerous areas and he’s been a real threat for defences in other games as well.”
Newcastle’s next game sees them head to Brighton on Sunday, with Lascelles currently the Magpies’ top scorer with two.
In other Newcastle United news, several top flight sides are circling for one of the club’s top youngsters.
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