A lot of Newcastle United fans have responded to claims from Darren Bent, who told Football Insider that the Toon’s captain Jamaal Lascelles needs to have a look at himself for not earning an England cap.
The former Sunderland striker believes that for someone with such a physical frame, he should have at least one cap for his national team.
Do you think Lascelles should have had an England call-up?
Yes, he deserved one two seasons ago
No, not good enough for England
Bent, therefore, thinks that something is going on with Lascelles for him not to have received a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s side.
Some Toon fans believe that Bent is talking nonsense, and it is not his fault that he has not had an England cap.
"He needs to have a look at himself." https://t.co/4Z4iJb4GlY
— The Chronicle (@ChronicleNUFC) February 19, 2020
@DarrenBent whats the point though? Even when he was in the form of his life a season or two ago, he was never considered by Southgate.
Maybe he’s being limited now by Bruce?
— Lee (@leerobson23) February 19, 2020
Who else but Darren Bent…
— David Stølen (25) ??????? (@StolenStones1) February 19, 2020
A bit random. Lascelles is a decent defender with great leadership ability, and bad on the ball. Rafa used Lejeune/Schar so that Lascelles didn’t need to be good on the ball.
With a lot of options available Southgate still preferred Walker as CB?????
— Matthew (@JB4t00n) February 19, 2020
Have you got any more pearls of wisdom from Darren Bent? Or for that matter, Michael Owen, Chris Sutton or Simon Jordan? I’m at my wits end worrying about what they think of NUFC and it’s fans
— M0nkeyface (@Peterconway413) February 19, 2020
Well it’s hardly @Lascelles16 fault @DarrenBent these England managers are narrow minded they have their favourites that they keep picking. I would love Lascelles to captain England but because #NUFC is not attractive in the eyes of England.
— Daniel Woodward ?????????????????????? (@Danielwoodward6) February 19, 2020
Other Newcastle supporters, though, do agree with Bent’s assessment of Lascelles.
In my opinion he’s never really improved, he doesn’t dominate the box, he has all the attributes to be a very good defender, but he doesn’t show it consistently, imo he’s the 4th best CB at the club, ladcelles needs to look at Fede to the level he needs to get to
— Chris Cossey (@Cosseycj) February 19, 2020
Hardly astonishing, it’s a really fair point.
— DG (@DavidJG80) February 19, 2020
Sadly I agree (with a mackem ?)… he’s nowhere near the player I though he was going to be … he’s steady but not at the level he could/should be
— Andy Dobson (@jacknmorgan) February 19, 2020
What do we think?
The 26-year-old was arguably worthy of an England call-up in the 2017/18 season, but Southgate ignored him, and since then, his form has not hit those levels.
However, he is a very good leader and in the 48 games he has played over the past two seasons, Newcastle have won 15 compared to four out of 16 when he hasn’t played.
International honours might never arrive for Lascelles, but that does not mean he is a failure for the Toon.