Rafa Benitez has delivered some great news ahead of tomorrow’s game with Leicester at St James’ Park, confirming that Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles and Christian Atsu are both fit and ready to return to the NUFC side tomorrow.
The game will come too soon for Paul Dummet however, with the left-back set to feature for the U-23’s tonight in a bid to up his match fitness ahead of a first team return this month.
Great news about both Lascelles and Atsu however. The pair have been out ever since they limped off in the 0-1 home defeat to Bournemouth early last month, with Lascelles being a big miss at the back for us ever since.
Here’s what Rafa had to say on the returning duo today:
“Lascelles & Atsu are available. Dummett will play with the U23s to improve his match fitness. It is important for players to be coming back to increase competition”
We look a totally different proposition with the skipper at the heart of that back four. His presence and leadership has been missed in recent weeks. We’ve seemed much more switched on with him around and hopefully that shows if Rafa decides to bring him straight back in tomorrow.
Atsu has done well in patches this season and had nailed down his place in the side, however it will be interesting to see if he starts tomorrow – with November’s player of the month Jacob Murphy having done very well in his absence.
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Jamie V(Quote)
Rafa could drop Ritchie into the 10 role, merino and Hayden behind him Atsu left, Murphy right and Gayle up front.
Back 4 of yedlin, Manquiio, Lascelles and Clarke Darlow/Elliot in nets
Giimps(Quote)