Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles faces a fight to win his place back in Rafael Benitez’s team.
Lascelles played through the pain for Newcastle last season, and he has still not returned to full fitness.
The centre-back has picked up a knee injury, and did not feature in a friendly against Bradford City last night.
And Benitez said: “He has a little problem, and we have to be careful.
“We have enough players to manage that and give other people an opportunity.”
Lascelles will be wanting to get off the treatment table as soon as possible, as he faces a fight to win a place in Newcastle’s team.
The arrival of Florian Lejeune at St. James’ Park has increased Benitez’s options at centre-back considerably.
Lascelles will now need to force his way in ahead of both Lejeune and Ciaran Clark if he is to break into Newcastle’s starting line-up.
The Magpies still have a series of friendlies to get through before the competitive action starts up, but Benitez’s side have been thrown in at the deep end upon their return to the Premier League.
Newcastle’s league first match of the campaign comes against Mauricio Pochettino’s impressive Tottenham Hotspur side at St. James’ Park.
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