Newcastle United may have to appoint new captain after Jamaal Lascelles news – pundit
Jamaal Lascelles will not start the majority of games for Newcastle United so Eddie Howe will have to appoint another captain, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa captain claimed Lascelles can still be the “club captain” but Howe will need another who plays the majority of the games.
As quoted by Chronicle Live earlier this week (18 July), the Newcastle boss confirmed the 28-year-old will continue to wear the armband in 2022-23.
He has been the skipper since the summer of 2016 after he was appointed as Fabricio Coloccini’s successor by Rafa Benitez.
Sven Botman’s arrival from Lille has pushed Lascelles down the St. James’ Park pecking order even further.
After Dan Burn signed from Brighton & Hove Albion in January, the Nottingham Forest academy graduate managed just five Premier League starts.
Asked for his verdict on Howe’s decision on the captaincy, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “You can have a captain who is the club captain.
“If he does that role well then there is no harm in keeping him.
“But if they know he is not going to play every game they will have to find another captain for the pitch.
“They’ve got options there and he’s probably fourth-choice. He definitely needs to name two captains.”
Lascelles has played 214 times across all competitions for Newcastle since moving from Nottingham Forest in a double deal with Karl Darlow in the summer of 2014.
The Englishman is under contract at St. James’ Park for a further two years.
In other news, Leeds United have responded to Newcastle United’s formal Jack Harrison bid.