Lejeune impresses Newcastle United captain Lascelles

Lejeune returned to Rafa Benitez’s starting XI against Manchester United, when the Magpies secured a precious 1-0 win 12 days ago.

And the 26-year-old defender – who replaced Ciaran Clark – will hope to keep his place for tomorrow’s trip to Bournemouth.

Lascelles thought his defensive partner – hit by ankle and foot injuries in the first half of the season – was “excellent” against Manchester United.

“He’s a good defender,” said Newcastle’s captain, who is reportedly being tracked by Chelsea. “He offers a lot. He’s good on the ball, and, defensively, he was excellent.

“I think me and him played well together, and everyone was at it against them.

“It’s important that we keep it there. We have set our standard, and we need to maintain it.”

The Manchester United game also saw goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, signed on loan from Sparta Prague last month, make his debut.

“The new keeper was brilliant, and made some great saves,” said Lascelles.

“Normally, new players can be a little bit shy or they don’t come out of their shell, but in training he has come in, he wants to play and has been bossing people about.

“That’s really good, because he is the voice at the back, and it’s important that he speaks to his defenders.

“Fair play to him. He made some great saves and kept us a clean sheet.”

Newcastle are just two points above the relegation zone, though a win at the Vitality would take them level with 10th-placed Bournemouth.

Benitez believes 40 points will be needed to guaranteed survival this season, and Lascelles is impatient to get more points on the board.

“Most people would never have thought we would beat Man United,” said the centre-half.

“But we beat them, we’re on 28 points now and we’re in a better position.

“The next two games are massive for us against Bournemouth and Liverpool (on March 3). We need to be getting a lot of points from those games.”