EDDIE HOWE hailed Jamaal Lascelles’ character after the Newcastle United skipper stepped out of the shadows to help shackle the best player in world football during this evening’s 4-1 thrashing of Paris St Germain.

Lascelles might be the Magpies’ captain, but he barely kicked a ball last season as he found himself unable to break back into the first team.

He was still on the fringe of things at the start of the current campaign, but found himself promoted back into the starting line-up when Sven Botman suffered a knee injury towards the end of last month.

Since then, Lascelles has contributed to clean sheets against Manchester City and Burnley and helped contain Kylian Mbappe as Newcastle claimed their biggest-ever Champions League win.

Howe was always confident the 29-year-old could prove his enduring ability, and is full of admiration for the way in which Lascelles conducted himself during his lengthy spell out of the side.

The Magpies head coach said: “I’m so pleased for Jamaal. I said countless times last year how good his attitude was and how well he trained. He was so good for the group, but ultimately, he’s desperate to show how good he is on the pitch.

“The biggest compliment I can pay him is that he’s stepped in and really stepped up to the challenge. I think he’s done really well in the last group of games we’ve had.

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“He had to train so well to continue to develop his game when he wasn’t playing. My inner belief was always that he would improve, even though he wasn’t in the starting XI, and that his game was in a really good place, and I think he proved that tonight. I’m delighted for him, and his performance was a real testament to his attitude and character.”