Jamaal Lascelles left Newcastle United in January and is currently without a club following a short stint at Leicester City.

Jamaal Lascelles has expressed his desire to bid a proper farewell to Newcastle United.

Signed in 2014, the former Toon defender made 253 appearances for the club. Lascelles arrived as a youngster from Nottingham Forest and immediately returned on loan.

However, in his first season in the Newcastle ranks, Lascelles established himself as a genuine leader. He famously spoke out following a 3-1 defeat to Southampton in April 2016 - inspiring Rafa Benitez to hand him the armband at just 23 two months later.

Lascelles spearheaded the team that won promotion a season later and helped re-establish Newcastle as a Premier League outfit. While his game time was limited in those latter years, the now 32-year-old lifted the Carabao Cup trophy alongside Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes.

We have launched a new NUFC YouTube channel to bring the latest Newcastle United news and analysis. Click this link and subscribe to NUFC Press Box.

‘I love Newcastle’ - Jamaal Lascelles

Speaking to Sky Sports, Lascelles - who left in January and is without a club - declared his love for Newcastle while opening up about wanting to say goodbye. He said: “I absolutely love Newcastle. I think I was there since I was 21 and saw everything.

“Different managers, relegations, promotions, everything. I saw so many people come and go, players and staff. It was really difficult to go. I've been meaning to go back and say a proper goodbye because it was sort of rushed.

“It was the January transfer window. More so to the fans, really, because I'm not on social media. I wasn't able to put out a message to say bye properly. But I would love to go back and just say a proper goodbye and (give them) a thank you more than anything.

“I can't thank them enough for being so supportive and obviously very passionate. They'll tell you about yourselves, which I think is good as well. I think it's healthy. I'd just love to say thank you to them.”

Stay in the know with St James’ Park’s biggest stories and sign up for our FREE Newcastle United newsletter

Jamaal Lascelles on finding new club

Lascelles left Leicester City in the summer and has put himself in the shop window for potential suitors. He added: “It's a position I've never been in before. There's been a lot of uncertainty. I've been ticking over with my fitness and following a programme, hoping for the right team to come so I can join and go back playing football.

“Hopefully, soon it can change. I'm up early, straight out of the house. Footballers have been very robotic our whole careers with getting up and being told what to do. So as soon as I'm up, I'm out of the gym or I'm running. I need to be doing something with football.

“Of course, I'm open-minded with where I go. Ultimately for me, it's about getting back playing and enjoying football.”

Your next Newcastle United read: ‘Goosebumps’ - Gary Neville ‘nearly in tears’ at what Newcastle United supporters did this season