Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has said that his club captain Jamaal Lascellles has what it takes to play for the England national team. The 23-year-old has been impressed whilst captaining the Magpies.
Last season, Lascelles admirably led the club back to the Premier League from the Championship and he has also scored the winning goals during two out of the clubs last three fixtures this term.
Based on the progress that he is making, he will definitely stand a chance of breaking into Gareth Southgate’s team within the near future.
Benitez has now stated his belief that the player definitely has the potential to make his mark internationally but added that he must keep his feet on the ground for now.
He said, “I [took him to one side for a chat], but I’ve done this with some players. When you are doing really well, I say to them it’s important to concentrate on their jobs. If they are doing well, what they have to do is keep doing the same things.
“I have years of experience. It’s the most difficult thing. If you are doing well and everyone is praising you and praising you, sometimes if you are young you lose your focus. It’s to remind them that this is the way to continue being praised.
“He’s happy with this approach. It’s quite easy for me to tell him, ‘You have to keep working hard’, because he was doing it anyway. We’re trying to improve other things in his game, but in terms of this – his mentality and character – he’s fine.
“He’s someone that has the potential and has to keep working the same way that he’s working, and he will improve. How much will he improve? I don’t know. But he has the potential and that’s quite positive.”
