Jamaal Lascelles makes Newcastle United playing return after over 13 months out | OneFootball

Jamaal Lascelles picked up a serious injury when playing in the 4-3 win over West Ham on 30 March 2023.

That ACL injury has led to an absence of over 13 months.

Jamaal Lascelles at last named in a first team matchday squad on Sunday against Chelsea. However, it was notable and understandable that Eddie Howe didn’t call on the defender, despite Sven Botman having to be subbed off.

With United’s squad stretched, Eddie Howe having two keepers on the bench, as well as a 17 year old striker in Sean Neave, so Jamaal Lascelles seemingly amongst the subs to get back involved as a first step, before eventually maybe getting back into first team involvement on the pitch.

Now on Tuesday, Jamaal Lascelles has at last got on the pitch, however, it was during a reserve team friendly against their Celtic counterparts.

Lascelles playing the first half, before an almost completely different NUFC team played the second half.

The friendly ending 1-1 and good luck to Jamaal Lascelles on continuing his recovery.

Newcastle United official release – 13 May 2025:

‘Jamaal Lascelles made his long-awaited return from a 13-month injury lay-off during Newcastle United Under-21s’ friendly clash against Celtic FC B on Tuesday afternoon.

The 31-year-old centre-back was an unused substitute in Newcastle’s 2-0 win against Chelsea last weekend, named in a senior matchday squad for the first time since March 2024 after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but played a steady opening half for United’s second-string at the Magpies’ Training Centre.

The Derby-born defender went close to opening the scoring for the Magpies on two occasions in the opening minutes of the behind-closed-doors encounter, heading wide from Leo Shahar’s corner before his powerful header from Shahar’s corner towards the back post shortly after was held by the Celtic goalkeeper.

Newcastle opened the scoring in the 19th minute through Neave as the England Under-18 international, named on the bench for United’s Carabao Cup final win against Liverpool in March, was the quickest to react after Alfie Harrison’s stinging shot from the edge of the box was parried into the striker’s path by steering the rebound into the net from close-range.

Nine changes were made before the restart, with the likes of Garang Kuol, Ben Parkinson and Kyle Fitzgerald introduced to the field of play and it was the former who went agonisingly close to doubling Newcastle’s lead as the Australia international, who represented his country at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, raced through on goal but placed his low effort wide of the right-hand post.

Jay Turner-Cooke, introduced at the break, took his turn in front of goal as the South Shields-born midfielder, who made his senior debut for Eddie Howe’s side in the Diriyah Season Cup against Al Hilal in December 2022, latched onto Parkinson’s cutback but steered his stabbed shot wide of the left-hand post.

Magpies goalkeeper Adam Harrison, who played the full 90 minutes, produced a string of strong stops throughout the friendly clash but his clean sheet hopes were dashed in the closing stages following an impressive curling strike.

Parkinson, who scored eight goals in 11 Premier League 2 matches this season, was unable to restore Newcastle’s lead in the final stages as the Durham-born forward, who made his Premier League debut away at AFC Bournemouth during the 2023/24 campaign, saw a stinging drive inside the penalty area blocked by the Celtic goalkeeper.

Newcastle United Under-21s (first-half): Adam Harrison, Leo Shahar, Jamaal Lascelles, Cathal Heffernan, Dylan Charlton, Rory Finneran, Anthony Munda, Alfie Harrison, Johnny Emerson, Trevan Sanusi, Sean Neave.