Jamaal Lascelles opens up about his injury fear at Newcastle United
Jamaal Lascelles hopes to be back playing for Newcastle United in the New Year – but he feared he would be out for much longer.
Lascelles, the club’s captain, cracked his tibia against Bournemouth last month.
However, the 26-year-old feared that he had damaged his cruciate ligament after his knee swelled up after the game.
Writing in the matchday programme for the weekend’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City, Lascelles said: “It’s been three weeks since I picked up my injury, and I’m actually feeling really good.
“I’m able to do a lot of stuff in the gym and keep on top of my fitness. Since I did it, I’ve not really felt much pain.
“Obviously, I know at the same time there’s a crack in the bone, so it’s just a matter of time and waiting for it to heal. That’s the frustrating part.
“I was trying to shield the ball for Martin (Dubravka), and I was running at full pelt. The striker (Callum Wilson) has kicked the outside of my right left, pushed me in the back, and I’ve jolted my leg and twisted it a bit.
“I felt a sharp pain and it was aching, but I just thought it was a bit of a knock, so I tried my best to play on.
“But it didn’t really feel right, and when it didn’t feel 100%, I knew I had to come off.
“When I got back inside the dressing room, it swelled up quite a bit, and the swelling got even worse when I got home that night.
“In the past, players have said that can be an early sign of cruciate injuries, so because I the amount of bleeding and swelling, we thought that could be the problem with me.
“But, luckily, I went for the scan, and all my ligaments were fine. It was just a crack on the tibia.”
Jonjo Shelvey, the club’s leading scorer with three goals, has been wearing the captain’s armband in Lascelles’ absence.