Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishJamaal Lascelles has another 12 months to run on his contract beyond the end of the season, with the Newcastle United club captain given an unannounced extension last year.The 31-year-old has been sidelined since last March, having ruptured his anterior cruciate knee ligament (ACL) during the 4-3 victory over West Ham United, and it is unclear whether he will be fit enough to return before the end of the present campaign.Lascelles signed a six-year extension in 2018, which was due to run out last summer, before the club exercised an option to keep him on Tyneside. Newcastle have not announced that Lascelles now has a contract which runs until 2026, and not 2025 as was previously thought, but sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have informed The Athletic that this is the case.Last month, Lascelles, the club captain, was given the honour of lifting the Carabao Cup at Wembley alongside Bruno Guimaraes, the on-field skipper, and Kieran Trippier, who has regularly worn the armband since joining the club in January 2022. Eddie Howe values Lascelles’ leadership and has praised the defender’s contributions off the field, including during his injury absence.Despite Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth also signing 12-month contract extensions through until next summer, and Lascelles still set to be part of the defensive contingent heading into 2025-26, acquiring a right-sided centre-back remains a priority in the transfer market during the upcoming window.“I don’t know whether we’ll see Jamaal before the end of the season,” Howe said earlier this month. “I don’t really want to set a target on his time to return. He’s started very light training with the squad, but that would be light, not necessarily in competitive drills.“He’s joined in the drills that have been non-competitive, and he’s looked really good. It’s small steps for him. We’re hoping he can definitely be joining in and competing in training before the end of the season, but whether that ties in with the team and whether he gets there in time in terms of competitive action, let’s wait and see.”The head coach was cryptic in his response when asked whether Lascelles would be given an extension, with the assumption at that stage being that the defender’s deal was due to expire.“He’s a big player for us,“ Howe said, when asked about Lascelles’ future during a pre-match press conference. “He’s very popular, and he’s still a huge leader in the group.“He’s got a big presence, and I’m delighted that he got to lift the cup with the other guys. He deserved that moment for the length of time he’s been here and the service he’s given the club.”(Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)
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