Jamaal Lascelles is set to feature in Newcastle United’s squad for the Premier League visit to Arsenal on Sunday.
Lascelles was named on the bench for the Magpies’ 2-0 win over Chelsea at St James’ Park last Sunday before 48 hours later getting a run out for the under-21s on Tuesday afternoon.
The 31-year-old played the first half in a 1-1 draw with Celtic B at the club’s Benton training ground.
Eddie Howe reflects on Jamaal Lascelles’ long road to recovery
It has been a long road back for the defender since he sustained an ACL injury during the 4-3 comeback win over West Ham United last March.
It was around the same time Sven Botman also went under the knife for the same issue. However, the Dutchman returned around three months before Lascelles.
Reflecting on Lascelles’ recovery, head coach Eddie Howe told NewcastleWorld: “It's been a different recovery to Sven and no two recoveries from the same injury are the same. It's all individual. It's all about how your knee reacts to certain situations.
“Jamaal took a little bit longer. He had a couple of, I wouldn't say setbacks, but a couple of moments where he just had to take his time through different phases of his rehab. Through the whole process, though, Jamaal has been very level.
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“He hasn't had big sways of emotions, because it can be very easy to fall into a difficult place mentally during a long-term injury. I remember days when Jamaal was here at 5pm, in at 9am, still here at 5pm in the gym, that's the dedication that he's shown. Brilliant professional.
“We've missed his voice on the training ground, there's no doubt about that. On the training pitch, the standards that he demands of himself and other people, he's a real culture setter for us.
“To have him missing has been a big miss but delighted to have him back and his voice in full flow now on the training pitch.”
Could Jamaal Lascelles start against Arsenal?
Botman started in a back five against Chelsea last weekend but was withdrawn in the 55th minute after icing a knee problem at half-time. Although Howe described it as nothing more than a knock, he is a doubt for the visit to Arsenal on Sunday.
Should Howe stick with the 3-5-3 system, Botman’s potential absence would open up a spot at centre-back alongside Fabian Schar and Dan Burn. It’d likely be Emil Krafth that steps in with United understandably still edging on the side of caution with Lascelles.
Howe said: “Yeah, I think we've got to still be relatively careful with Jamal. Yes, he's been training and he's played a game, but I wouldn't say he's necessarily ready to start a game in the Premier League at the moment. I think probably ready to contribute from the bench is probably where he's at at the moment.”
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