Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles made another mistake against Wigan Athletic – but the signs are that Hull City’s centre-back could put him under pressure.
One major mistake can be accepted. Errors are an unavoidable part of the game, after all. Yet, Newcastle United captain , must now be looking over his shoulder after another moment of madness cost his side a goal on Saturday afternoon.
In the end, Lascelles was indebted to Matt Ritchie’s second half winner as The Magpies edged closer to promotion with an unconvincing 2-1 win against the seemingly doomed Wigan Athletic.
Yet, after a horrific mix up with goalkeeper Karl Darlow against Norwich – and an error-strewn performance versus Bristol City – the fans are starting to ask questions of their skipper.
It’s perhaps no surprise, therefore, that Newcastle are stepping up their pursuit of Hull City powerhouse Harry Maguire. The Chronicle reports that The Magpies have identified the former Sheffield United youngster as a primary target if and when they seal their Premier League return.
Newscastle, however, won’t be short of competition. Despite Hull possessing one of the worst defensive records in the top flight, Maguire has been a pillar of consistency in recent weeks.
Maguire’s dominance in the air and composure on the ground, coupled with his ability to flit between three and four-man backlines, has also reportedly earned the attention of Everton and Southampton.
According to The Chronicle, however, it’s Maguire’s leadership qualities which have impressed Newcastle. At the age of just 24, Maguire has shown that he can galvanize an under-pressure backline – an attribute that Lascelles is seemingly yet to master.
Should the current Newcastle captain be concerned for his position, then ? Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez clearly rates Lascelles, throwing him straight into the starting XI after taking over last year and making him the club’s youngest ever skipper. Nonetheless, the fact that he is reportedly looking for more leadership and character in his backline suggests that Lascelles’ errors have taken their toll.
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