Steve Bruce issues update on Newcastle United player forced off against Arsenal

Steve Bruce is assessing his squad ahead of Newcastle United's visit to Bramall Lane.
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Bruce must quickly pick up his players after Saturday night’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal.

One of the positives Bruce took from the game was the return of captain Jamaal Lascelles, who had been out since being forced off against Chelsea on November 21 with knee and thigh injuries.

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Lascelles went on to test positive for Covid-19, and the defender was only cleared to resume full training last week after a series of tests.

Bruce started Lascelles at the Emirates Stadium knowing that Lascelles wouldn’t able to last the whole game, and the 27-year-old lasted 45 minutes before becoming fatigued.

“Yeah, with the problems he’s had, we knew it was just a matter of when (he would have to come off),” said head coach Bruce, who was only able to name seven players on his bench at the Emirates Stadium after losing Callum Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey before the Arsenal game.

“It’ll do him the world of good that he’s had 45 minutes under his belt, we’ll see how he is on Tuesday,”

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Meanwhile, Lascelles's defensive colleagues Federico Fernandez and Fabian Schar – who also had Covid-19 late last year when there was an outbreak at the club's training ground – could be back for Tuesday night’s game against Sheffield United.

Steve Bruce at the Emirates Stadium.Steve Bruce at the Emirates Stadium.
Steve Bruce at the Emirates Stadium.

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