0:45 Newcastle boss Steve Bruce says the club ‘couldn’t be more safe’ after returning to phase one training after the coronavirus lockdown
“[Playing at Newcastle] is one of the best feelings, especially if you win,” he said. “There is no better feeling.
“The build-up from Monday to Friday in training, the preparation on Saturday, you turn up and the atmosphere is unreal.
“It’s our jobs, it what we live for and what we have been doing for a long time. I’ve played a lot of games at St. James’ Park, but it is still special every time.”
As for aspirations when the season does return, Lascelles refused to allow his focus to stray from the first obstacle in Newcastle’s path – their first Premier League clash with Sheffield United.
0:52 Newcastle’s Isaac Hayden says the club’s players are happy to return to contact training and can’t wait for the Premier League season to restart
“I’ve always said I like to step take things step by step,” he said. “We want to beat Sheffield United, that is our next game at home. Ideally, [after that], we want to finish as high as possible.”
Football may have been suspended for nearly 10 weeks but, as Lascelles testifies, footballers have been kept occupied by the various fitness programmes they have been assigned.
However, the opportunity to spend more time with his son is one of a number of positives the Newcastle captain has taken from lockdown.
“It’s been a tough time for people during lockdown, some people have had it tougher than others,” he said.
1:09 Bruce believes squads will need each of the remaining 19 days before the Premier League’s projected return date of June 17 in order to prepare properly and limit the chances of injuries
“I’m just trying to take the positives out of it, I’ve been able to spend some quality time with my son, actual quality time, not coming in the door from tired from training, half asleep trying to keep an eye on him.
“I’m actually full of energy, taking him out on bike rides and in the garden playing football. It’s been nice.”
Regarding his captaincy duties during the lockdown, Lascelles added: “I’ve not really kept an eye on anyone, some players are in Brazil, Switzerland, Africa.
“I have still been working, I’ve had to take calls with the other captains and the Premier League. We set up the donation, so I had to speak to the players.
“I’ve been speaking to the club a lot, obviously the deferral situation was going on, so I have been quite busy, but that has all settled down now and it’s all football-focused.”
After three months of uncertainty, a pathway out of this unprecedented period is taking shape. With the era of lockdown and isolation nearing an end, the operative word, as Lascelles highlights, is focus – it’s time to focus on football.
Sourse: skysports.com
