Mark Douglas has been speaking on the latest episode of the Everything is Black & White podcast and has been discussing Newcastle United’s defenders.
Douglas discussed many other things, but he spent a little bit of time on the options in Steve Bruce’s defence and what he sees happening to them.
The Evening Chronicle reporter believes that some of Toon’s centre-backs have uncertain futures, but he cannot see Jamaal Lascelles going anywhere.
Here is what he had to say on the centre-back options.
Do you want Lascelles to stay at Newcastle?
Yes, he is a superb captain
No, think it is time for him to move on
(16:13) “You [Andrew Musgrove] mentioned Lascelles there. I mean, he’s probably one of the players who will be retained whatever happens.
“The problem is now is you’ve got five centre-backs, I think I mentioned it in midweek as well, [Florian] Lejeune is he going to come back to the level we know he can play at, he’s probably their best centre-back on his day and if fit but he’s had two very serious injuries.
“[Fabian] Schar I think has been hit and miss, I wrote a piece today [Saturday] saying they’ve got a big decision to make on him in the summer, some interest in him, he’s only got two years left on his contract.
“[Federico] Fernandez signed a one-year extension, but again I didn’t necessarily think they thought he was going to be the player he has ended up being this season as well.
“So, it might be that they need another centre-back in the summer.”
It seems as if Douglas feels that Newcastle might need to buy a new central defender, but one man going nowhere is Lascelles.
TIF Thoughts…
With Newcastle in the middle of an ongoing takeover, there could be some changes to the Toon’s squad, but it feels as if Douglas can see the 26-year-old sticking around no matter what. (16:13)
The Toon have struggled when Lascelles is not in the team and have lost six of the 11 league matches without their captain, so it is clear why Douglas thinks he will be staying.
Lascelles also has four years left on his contract and has expressed that he might want to spend his whole career at Newcastle, so while he might have some new defenders to play with next season, it seems as if Lascelles will still be at St James’ Park. (According to Douglas)