Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hopes to see Jamaal Lascelles back’soon’ after providing a fresh injury update on the sidelined star.
The 31-year-old is working hard to recover from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament [ACL] injury that sidelined him since March 2024, as the Magpies defeated West Ham United 4-3 at St James’ Park. Lascelles has been in and around the club’s training base for months – and is now officially back on the grass – but with just over two months left in the season, he has yet to practice with the first team.
Howe recently admitted Lascelles was ‘probably looking towards the end of the season’ for a return date, and with the former Nottingham Forest star out of contract in the summer, it is unclear whether the St James’ Park faithful will see the long-serving defender in black and white again.
In a new report this week, Howe stated: “He’s making good progress. Back out on the grass. He has not yet trained with the team, but I believe he will be very satisfied with his current situation.
“Super lean and fit. He’s now in the latter stages of his recuperation, and perhaps we’ll see him soon.
Lascelles provided his own update on the situation last weekend, telling the club’s matchday magazine: “I absolutely feel like I’m on the right track in my comeback from an ACL injury. I experienced minor muscular injuries as a result of being away from the grass for an extended period of time. These problems were not related to my knee. But I’m in a good physical and mental state, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Lascelles’ ongoing absence comes as fellow centre-back Sven Botman is also out with a knee injury. The Dutchman endured an ACL injury last year but returned in late 2024 only to be sidelined by a new ailment with his opposite knee.
Howe also believes Botman will be back before the end of the season, but with the player undergoing surgery to remove fluid from the issue region, he, too, will be racing against the clock to return before the season finale against Everton on May 25.
