Eddie Howe has revealed that Jamaal Lascelles has been 'a very powerful' and 'positive' presence in the Newcastle United dressing room despite the club captain barely featuring of late.
Lascelles has started just one of Newcastle's last nine games after Dan Burn took his place in the side shortly after his mid-season move from Brighton. However, despite his lack of game time, Lascelles is still playing a key role behind the scenes as part of the leadership group established by Howe and his staff earlier this season.
Lascelles, himself, admitted that there were previously times at Newcastle where he 'found it difficult trying to keep the dressing room together', but the 28-year-old now has a host of team-mates who can help share the burden, including the influential Kieran Trippier. Trippier, Jonjo Shelvey and Fabian Schar have worn the armband when Lascelles has not played in recent months and Howe has put a lot of thought into who should step up in the centre-back's absence.
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"I take that very seriously because your leaders are everything to the day to day running of the club, the culture you're trying to create," he told reporters. "You need leaders to inspire other people and set the example of behaviour.
"Jamaal has been the same person in and out of the team. That's the biggest compliment I can give him.
"He's been a really good leader for us. A very powerful, positive presence in the dressing room so I'm delighted with him."
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