Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is hopeful of having Jamaal Lascelles available ‘soon’ after offering a fresh injury update on the sidelined star.
The 31-year-old is working hard on his recovery from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament [ACL] injury after being sidelined since March 2024 as the Magpies beat West Ham United 4-3 at St James’ Park. Lascelles has been in and around the club’s training base for months – and is now officially back on the grass – but, with just over two months left of the season, is still not training with the first-team just yet.
Howe recently admitted Lascelles was ‘probably looking towards the end of the season’ for a return date and given the former Nottingham Forest star is currently out of contract in the summer there is uncertainty over whether the St James’ Park faithful will see the long-serving defender in black and white again.
Offering a fresh update this week, Howe said: “He’s making good progress. Back out on the grass. Not training with the team yet but I’d say he’ll be really happy currently with where he’s at.
“Super lean, super fit. He’s now entering the last phase of his recovery and hopefully we’ll see him soon.”
Offering his own update on the matter last weekend, Lascelles told club’s matchday magazine: “I definitely feel like I’m getting on the right track in my recovery from an ACL injury. I’ve had a couple of little setbacks – nothing to do with the knee, just low-level muscle injuries which can happen when you spend such a long period of time away from the grass and your body adapts to the increasing load.
“But physically and mentally, I’m in a great place and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Lascelles’ continued absence comes at a time when fellow centre-back Sven Botman remains sidelined with a knee issue of his own. The Dutchman suffered an ACL injury last year but returned in late 2024 before breaking down with a fresh problem in the opposite knee.
Howe also insists Botman could be back before the end of the current campaign but with the player undergoing surgery to remove fluid from the problem area, he too will be facing a race against time to return before the season finale against Everton on May 25.
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