Newcastle United defender ruled out 'towards the end of the season'
Jamaal Lascelles hasn’t played for Newcastle United since March 30, 2024.
Newcastle United club captain Jamaal Lascelles is in a race against time as he looks to return from injury before the end of the campaign.
It’s been 11 months since Lascelles last played for the Magpies after he sustained an ACL injury in the 4-3 comeback victory over West Ham United on March 30.
The 31-year-old suffered the injury just a couple of weeks after fellow centre-back Sven Botman underwent surgery on the same problem. Botman returned to playing at the beginning of January, though Lascelles’ recovery has been far more complex.
Lascelles’ return date has been gradually knocked back to the point where he isn’t expected to return until the final part of the season, at the earliest.
Providing an update on Friday, head coach Eddie Howe revealed: “Jamal's continuing to work. I think he was the last player to leave yesterday with some of the staff. He works extraordinarily long hours to try and get himself fit. I think he was here until 5pm again yesterday. Dedicated, as you've seen a player try to return from injury.
“He's had various problems and little setbacks, nothing major during his recovery, but just little moments that have ended up knocking his recovery back.
“He's been on the grass. He's been training individually with physios. He hasn't got beyond that stage yet, but I think he's in a pretty good place. We're probably looking towards the end of the season as a return date for him.”
Has Jamaal Lascelles played his last game for Newcastle?
Howe’s update raises the question of whether Lascelles has played his last game for the club.
The Derby-born defender has made over 250 appearances for Newcastle since joining from Nottingham Forest over a decade ago, the majority of which have come as skipper since being appointed at the start of the 2016-17.
He is out-of-contract in the summer, with talks yet to take place over a new deal.
United this week handed a new one-year contract to Emil Krafth, while Fabian Schar is expected to extend his stay. On top of that, Howe is keen to sign a central defender this summer, which would therefore push Lascelles further down the pecking order.