Newcastle United suffered another significant setback as captain Jamaal Lascelles was confirmed to be sidelined for “six to nine months”.
The 30-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the thrilling 4-3 victory against West Ham United last Saturday, further complicating manager Eddie Howe’s already extensive injury concerns.
Lascelles, who has made 26 appearances in all competitions this season, had returned to the starting lineup to bolster the defensive unit. With Sven Botman also unavailable due to a similar injury, Newcastle faces a challenging period ahead.
In an official club statement released on Sunday, Newcastle United announced: “Club captain Jamaal Lascelles suffered an ACL rupture in his right knee during the recent match against West Ham United. Following consultation with a specialist, he is scheduled for surgery next week and is expected to be out for six to nine months.
“The entire Newcastle United family wishes Jamaal a successful and speedy recovery.”
Despite climbing to eighth place in the Premier League standings after the victory over West Ham, Newcastle’s triumph was marred by injuries to Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, and Miguel Almiron.
Additionally, the absence of Nick Pope since December due to a shoulder injury, along with the continued unavailability of Lewis Miley and Kieran Trippier, has further compounded the team’s injury woes.