Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has insisted "ultimate professional" Jamaal Lascelles will remain captain of the Magpies.
Lascelles has only started one game in the Premier League but has been vital in the League Cup and will lead out the team at home to AFC Bournemouth. He put in a good shift in the 5-0 win over Al-Hilal last night before lifting the Diriyah Season Cup to the delight of the travelling fans.
Howe has used Kieran Trippier in Lascelles' absence this term but says the centre-back drives standards on Tyneside. Despite links with Nottingham Forest, it appears Lascelles is staying on Tyneside.
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When asked if Lascelles was still the main leader in the dressing room, Howe told Chronicle Live from Riyadh: "Very much so. He has been absolutely fantastic this season and I don't say that with any hint of other any other meaning of truly meaning it.
"He drives the standards every day in training and has been the ultimate professional. If the lads have a problem they go to Jamaal and if they don't go to him they might go to Dan Burn or to Tripps.
"We have a team of leaders and that is part of why we have been successful because we have a really good core group of players. They help drive standards every day."
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