Eddie Howe has revealed that Jamaal Lascelles passed his test of a good leader this season. The club captain has watched on at times as Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey donned the armband.
But Howe is pleased with the role of Lascelles this term. Howe told Chronicle Live: “I have to say Jamaal has been an exceptional captain.
"The biggest compliment I can give him is when he was out the team, and I think when you are captain of the team and you aren’t in the team, how do you act in that moment? And that was a real test of his leadership.
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"I have to say he responded brilliantly to that moment, and that challenge. For me, it elevated him as a captain because of that. He was positive and he led really, really well around the group.”
Lascelles was appointed captain at United in 2017 and after skippering Newcastle to the Championship he has now overseen five successful survival missions. The former Nottingham Forest centre-back has survived being axed before, under Rafa Benitez no less, and his attitude impressed Howe.
He said: "You can very easily fall into your own psychology or thinking if you are disappointed or not playing and you can let it affect you negatively. He didn't. He elevated his captaincy and was brilliant on the pitch and excellent off the pitch.”
Howe knows this season hasn’t been perfect with a number of different captains. He said: "It's not ideal that the armband changes around. You want a consistent leader in you group.
"But actually, one of the benefits of that happening is it inspires other people. Callum Wilson took the armband the other night and I felt led the team really, really well. The more leaders I can have in the group the better, and the more successful we can be."
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