Newcastle skipper Lascelles dropped after fallout with Rafa Benítez | OneFootball

Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles was dropped for Sunday’s clash with Chelsea after reportedly having a training ground ‘bust-up’ with Rafa Benítez.

According to the Daily Mail’s north-east reporter Craig Hope, the Magpies skipper is thought to have had a ‘bust-up’ with the manager after voicing disapproval at Benítez’s decision to play three at the back for the visit of the Blues.

In the absence of Lascelles, the Spaniard selected Ciaran Clark alongside summer signings Fabian Schär and Federico Fernández at centre-back.

The newspaper claims Benítez trialled three at the back in training on Thursday but Lascelles was not happy at being placed on the right of the three and wanted to play centrally.

The 24-year-old was then left out of Friday’s session with the Newcastle boss imposing his continued exile for Sunday’s game.

Newcastle, via the club’s official Twitter account, claimed Lascelles was missing with an ankle injury.

Benítez, meanwhile, said on Lascelles: “We have enough centre-backs, that is it,” Lee Ryder of The Chronicle reported.