Lascelles ‘went for’ Newcastle teammate before Chelsea game

Jamaal Lascelles ‘physically confronted’ Newcastle teammate Matt Ritchie ahead of the club’s game against Chelsea on Sunday.

Newcastle were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in a game that led to widespread criticism of their uber-defensive approach.

Benitez was forced to issue responses to Graeme Souness and Jamie Redknapp, as well as Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, after Newcastle registered 19% possession over 90 minutes.

The manager was also made to deny dropping captain Lascelles after a training-ground argument in the build-up to the game.

But it has since emerged that Lascelles was involved in a confrontation with teammate Ritchie.

The Daily Mail have revealed that the pair ‘had to be separated’ after an argument over tactics, and that Lascelles ‘physically confronted’ Ritchie as a result.

Benitez ‘had it out with both players’ and is understood to be ‘happy with the resolution’, as Lascelles and Ritchie ‘remain good friends’.

According to a Mail source: “Ritchie was basically saying, ‘Just get on with it, even if you don’t like it, it’s the manager’s choice’.

‘They had a row on the pitch but it wasn’t finished there. It all flared up again and Lascelles went for Ritchie in the changing-room.’

What with his training-ground bust-up with Mo Diame last season, there are said to be ‘concerns’ over Lascelles at St James’ Park. Oh dear.