Medical expert: Newcastle have dropped ‘major’ Jamaal Lascelles clue with latest update
Jamaal Lascelles will almost certainly play some part in the Newcastle United matchday squad to face Everton next Tuesday (8 February).
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Newcastle skipper Lascelles was taken off with a suspected hamstring complaint in the 1-0 win over Leeds United last month (22 January).
But the 28-year-old centre-back played the second half of the 70-minute practice match against Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia over the winter break.
And as quoted by the Shields Gazette last Saturday (29 January), Newcastle boss Eddie Howe called Lascelles’ return a “big boost”.
Dinnery suggests that Lascelles is likely to be back in action again in the Magpies’ first match after the winter break.
“In these games, Eddie Howe will be taking absolutely no risks,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Availability is maybe one of the most overlooked aspects of a player. It doesn’t matter how good they are if they aren’t fit.
“Howe wouldn’t be throwing the likes of Lascelles out there in a friendly if he wasn’t 100 per cent confident.
“It’s not like he’s been out long-term and he needs to be reintegrated to improve match sharpness and fitness.
“There was maybe a fatigue element involved at Elland Road with that hamstring and it was maybe a precautionary withdrawal.
“That game happened last Friday, so in effect you still have another 10 days of training.
“Based on that, there’s a major indication he will be involved in the next matchday squad.”
Lascelles has scored once in 18 appearances this term.
Newcastle boosted their defensive roster with the deadline-day signings of Matt Targett and Dan Burn.
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