Does Jamaal Lascelles face losing Newcastle United place with Florian Lejeune returning?

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Rafael Benitez has a big decision to make about the heart of his Newcastle United defence – despite Jamaal Lascelles’ excellent form.

Newcastle United fans might have been concerned about their ability to edge tight encounters this season with none of their three centre-forwards, Joselu, Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic, doing much to suggest they can be reliable Premier League goalscorers.

They needn’t have worried, however, with Jamaal Lascelles stepping up to save the day on successive weekends. Six days after powering home the only goal of the game away at Swansea City, the centre-back headed in at St James’ Park to see off Stoke City 2-1.

As such, speculation has intensified that Lascelles, who was handed the captaincy of one of England’s biggest clubs at the age of 22, could be set for a maiden international call-up ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers with Slovenia and Lithuania.

“Is he ready for England? He is someone who has the potential,” Benitez told The Mirror.

However, it should perhaps be the short-term, rather than the long, that Lascelles has on his mind right now. After all, it should not be forgotten that the former Nottingham Forest youngster actually started the season as Newcastle’s third choice.

If Florian Lejuene, the £9 million summer signing from Eibar, had not suffered an ankle injury in a rash challenge from Harry Kane in the opening day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, you wonder whether Lascelles would even be in Newcastle’s best XI right now.

According to The Chronicle, Lejeune should be available to return as early as next week after being left out of Sunday’s trip to Brighton as a precaution. Therefore, Benitez has a decision to make. Does he partner the big summer signing with Ciaran Clark once again or does he keep Lascelles in the team?

Fans may argue that Lascelles has done more than enough to keep his place but Benitez obviously signed Lejeune beleiving he was better than the defenders currently at the club.