Jamaal Lascelles continues to lead Newcastle United behind the scenes despite his lack of game time, Eddie Howe insists. The Magpies skipper hasn't started for the club since the last-gasp defeat against Liverpool back in August but still has a big role to play in this season's push for Europe.
Much has been made of Lascelles being handed the captain's armband during the 4-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend, as vice-captain Kieran Trippier made the classy gesture as his co-star entered the field with 10 minutes remaining. Trippier's quality and leadership has been on display all campaign thus far but Lascelles remains among the biggest voices within the squad.
For Howe, the defender's work on the training pitch and in the dressing room means he will continue to keep the captaincy even while he struggles for minutes. "Jamaal has been, and will be, our leader," the Newcastle boss told reporters on Friday.
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"Yes he hasn't been on the pitch as much as he would have liked but he hasn't changed the way he's led the group. Everyone looks at him as the captain. That's because of how he conducts himself. His work rate & training standards have been exemplary I can't praise him enough."
Arguably Howe's best quality as Newcastle boss is his ability to make sure every single one of his first-team squad feels included and part of the project on Tyneside. As he dishes out praise for an individual in the media, the Newcastle boss often name drops a host of other players in a similar position, in a deliberate attempt not to leave anyone out.
Lascelles and Ryan Fraser, both unused substitutes in the 2-1 win last month, received hugs and handshakes from the boss, as if they had been out on the pitch themselves. These little touches are why Howe commands such respect in this dressing room, even with those first-team players struggling for regular game time.
Much has been made of Newcastle's £200m transfer outlay in recent months but the players Howe has inherited have shown significant improvement. The former Bournemouth boss has also harnessed the positive energy of the entire squad to catapult the club into the European spotlight after only 12 months at the helm.
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