Former Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has hailed Magpies boss Eddie Howe after confirming Jamaal Lascelles would remain as club captain next season. The central defender will retain the armband for the 2023-24 campaign, despite starting just two Premier League games last season.
Lascelles answered a number of questions regarding his future at the club after being linked with both West Ham United and Luton Town. The 29-year-old reiterated his desire to stay at the club and Howe showed his class by interjecting at the end of the Newcastle United press conference to praise the Toon captain.
"I just want to add something, I just want to say with Jamaal in this group he has been an unbelievable captain," Howe said. "Captaincy does not just exist on the pitch, it has to exist off it as well.
"The two things are so intrinsically linked so a lot of our success last year came down to a group of players giving everything on and off the pitch. There was a group of people off the pitch and Jamaal was one of them.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe's true class with Jamaal Lascelles as he confirms Newcastle United captaincy decision
"Now Jamaal will want to play like every player does but it's how you react when you are not playing is the key. And I just want to pay tribute to what Jamaal did last year and we move forward together."
There has been considerable improvement in squad morale since Howe took charge of the club with the entire squad pulling in one direction. Current Bristol Rovers boss Barton has praised Howe for showing his class.
Barton tweeted: "The off field takes care of the on field. So important to have complete buy-in from the whole group.
"Class from Eddie to honour Jamaal Lascelles like that."