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Lascelles: 'We're Ready To Go'
Written by Newcastle Utd
Jamaal Lascelles believes United's unbeaten pre-season means they are ready for the start of the new campaign
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Jamaal Lascelles believes Newcastle United are perfectly prepared for the start of the Sky Bet Championship season after remaining unbeaten throughout their warm-up games.
The Magpies completed their pre-season programme with a 3-2 victory over Dutch side Vitesse on Saturday at St. James' Park, adding to the three victories and a draw that they had previously picked up over the last fortnight.
And having yet to taste defeat, centre-back Lascelles is relishing the 2016/17 campaign kicking off on Friday night at Fulham.
"Pre-season isn't just for fitness - you've also got to make sure you are doing the right things, and our results would suggest that we have been," he told nufc.co.uk.
"It's a nice feeling to have been unbeaten going into the season, and I feel like we're ready.
"The boys are sharp, we are all raring to go and if we continue like we have been in front of goal then it could be a very exciting season."
Saturday's fixture saw United race into a three-goal first-half lead, with efforts from Dwight Gayle and Jack Colback adding to an own goal from Vitesse defender Kevin Leerdam.
However, the Magpies took their foot off the pedal after the break and conceded twice - both from set-pieces - as their Eredivisie opponents almost completed a remarkable comeback.
Lascelles insists that those defensive lapses will be ironed out in time for the trip to Craven Cottage.
"We started off really well," he continued.
"Vitesse were a different type of opponent to what we have faced so far in pre-season - playing much more in front of us and very much to feet. But I thought we dealt with it well and took our goals fantastically.
"I was really pleased with the first half but I was quite disappointed with the goals we conceded in the second half.
"As a centre-half it's not nice to concede any goal but especially from a set-piece. We're going to analyse it, go over what we need to do and correct it ready for Fulham on Friday.
"We know what we've got to do and we've got to get things right. We've got high standards and want to be as good a team as we can, so it is important that we get things right."