Key man’s future in doubt: Three things learned about Newcastle in draw v Southampton
Lascelles the key man
Newcastle fans might have been surprised when they saw that Jamaal Lascelles’ and Ciaran Clark’s partnership at the heart of defence had been ended thanks to the return of Florian Lejeune.
However that didn’t stop the former Nottingham Forest defender from putting in yet another high quality performance at the back.
He was constantly frustrating the Southampton attack with his resolute nature, putting in a series of blocks and interceptions to deny their chances on Rob Elliot’s goal, and could do very little for either of the Saints’ goals.
It should be a major boost for Benitez knowing that his captain can perform no matter who he lines up against, and with another impressive outing under his belt, he may well be catching the eye of more than just his own manager.
Click ‘4’ below to see the third thing we learned in the win over Southampton