Gabby Agbonlahor has questioned Eddie Howe's decision not to strip Jamaal Lascelles of the captaincy at Newcastle United. The long-serving Magpies skipper has kept his place as a dressing room leader despite falling behind Sven Botman, Dan Burn, and Fabian Schar in the pecking order.
Lascelles has kept the armband ahead for his seventh season at the club, but is expected to be a bit-part player for United this term. The 28-year-old was named on the bench for the opening-day win against Nottingham Forest, only to be replaced ahead of kick-off by Paul Dummett due to injury.
Howe has introduced a leadership group at St James' Park since his appointment in November, with Kieran Trippier leading the side for the 2-0 victory over Steve Cooper's side. When asked about Lascelles' continued status as captain earlier this summer, Howe stood by the centre-back and insisted he remains 'a big presence and a very positive influence in the squad'.
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Agbonlahor cited the Newcastle head coach's decision in the current uncertainty over Tyrone Mings' future at Villa Park. Steven Gerrard took the decision ahead of the season to replace the England international as the club's captain, with the responsibility instead awarded to John McGinn.
Mings has been a key player for Villa for several seasons now, but was an unused substitute in for the defeat to former club Bournemouth on Saturday. Gerrard has since laid down the gauntlet to the 29-year-old, insisting he needs to get 'back to his best' to earn his place back in the starting eleven.
A former Villa skipper himself, Agbonlahor believes a club captain must 'play every game' in order to keep hold of the armband. Villa legend Paul McGrath called for Mings to be recalled, but the retired striker has backed the decision made by the Liverpool legend.
He told talkSPORT: "I think first of all, Paul McGrath is a legend of the game and Aston Villa, but Steven Gerrard is the manager. He decides who he plays. If he doesn't want to play Tyrone Mings, he doesn't play him.
"He's in charge, he's there to make the big decisions. There must be a reason behind it. Has he seen enough of him in the nine months he's been at Aston Villa that he's not for him?
"Did he know two weeks before the season started that he wasn't going to be in the starting lineup? I know at Newcastle, Lascelles is still captain and he's not a starter, but you want to name a captain who you feel is going to play every game.
"John McGinn will play every game, he is one of Aston Villa's better players so I understand Gerrard giving him the armband. If he feels that Tyrone Mings isn't the centre-half he wants to pair with new signing [Diego] Carlos... Konsa is a good defender.
"Chambers from Arsenal has done well since he's been at Aston Villa. So he's got options and I think it can get blown up. Steven Gerrard has got to live by his decisions, and we all know Steven Gerrard the player.
"We know Steven Gerrard the manager from Rangers. If he's got something he doesn't like about a player, he'll stick to his decisions."
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