Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles is conspicuous by his absence as of late.
The 31-year-old has made two appearances this season, coming on as a substitute during the draw with Bournemouth and the defeat to Arsenal. It was great to see Jamaal Lascelles involved in those games, as he completed his comeback from an ACL injury.
However, recent weeks have seen Lascelles fail to be included in the Newcastle United squad. His last appearance was on the bench against Nottingham Forest, with the centre-back since sitting out five games in a row.
One of those was expected, with Lascelles not in Newcastle’s Champions League squad and missing the Benfica victory.
Jamaal Lascelles arrives at St James' Park for Newcastle United vs Arsenal.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Eddie Howe has suggested Jamaal Lascelles is unavailable
But his absence domestically has been confusing, with further eyebrows raised after what Eddie Howe said on Sunday.
The Magpies welcomed back Lewis Hall to the squad, but he was not deemed fit enough to feature in Newcastle’s defeat to West Ham.
Explaining Hall’s inclusion, Howe said: “We had no other senior professionals to put on the bench today.”
That would imply that Lascelles is not fit, as he is eligible to feature in the Premier League unlike the Champions League.
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The last time the defender was seen was in training ahead of the Benfica game. While he cannot play in the Champions League, he is, to the surprise of no one, still allowed to train with his teammates.
When does Jamaal Lascelles’ Newcastle United contract expire?
Lascelles is currently in the final year of his Newcastle United contract. His deal expires in 2026, which means he will become a free agent at the end of the season unless he signs an extension.
Whether or not that happens will depend on two factors. It will depend on whether Eddie Howe wants to keep Lascelles as part of his squad because of his influence as a leader, despite knowing he will not be a regular starter. It will also depend on Lascelles and where his ambitions lie.
His long-term future at Newcastle United is unclear, as is his short-term future. His current availability is unclear, but one thing that is certain is he will not feature in the Champions League against Athletic Club on Wednesday night.