Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles has spoken of the support network around banned midfielder Sandro Tonali at St James’ Park.
The Italy international watched on from the stands at St James’ Park as Newcastle faced Arsenal in their last home game and knew he had another tough nine months ahead of him in terms of a suspension for illegal betting during his time in Serie A with AC Milan.
But Lascelles has revealed, his Newcastle team-mates are not constantly discussing his plight and helping him move through the next challenge of his career.
Lascelles, who has struck up a good early friendship with Tonali, told Chronicle Live: “When you come to the training ground it is like a safe haven. Everybody looks after each other.
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“We are a like a band of brothers in there. We all have each other’s back and it’s the same with this. We are supporting Sandro, we all have our arms around him. We’re behind him.”
Lascelles, now 30, feels that Newcastle’s senior stars, such as himself, Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope, Fabian Schar and Matt Ritchie, are all ensuring the midfielder keeps smiling.
Lascelles added: “He’s still a young player. OK, when you see him play he has the experience, but he is still a young player. He is in a new country and it is a lot to deal with. It is important that the whole team, especially the older lads, look after him. We don’t bring it up all the time but we are there for him.”
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