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Lascelles Looking To Kick-Start Season
Written by Newcastle Utd
Jamaal Lascelles knows there are plenty of games left to play this season - but admits Newcastle need to kick-start their campaign quickly
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Jamaal Lascelles is pleased Newcastle don't have long to wait for their next game after Saturday's frustrating defeat to Huddersfield.
United entertain Reading on Wednesday (kick-off 7.45pm) and the Magpies' captain is determined to make amends for the weekend's disappointing display when the Royals come to St. James' Park.
Rafa Benitez's players trained on Sunday morning as thoughts quickly turned to the visit of Jaap Stam's side, and Lascelles is confident that Newcastle will click sooner rather than later.
In their Championship title-winning season of 2009/10, an August home victory against Reading kick-started United's campaign. And Wednesday night's opponents can provide further inspiration to the Magpies; they lost four of their opening six matches in 2011/12 but went on to win the league.
And Lascelles told nufcTV: "There's still loads of games to play. We can't start blaming each other and get our heads down - we've got to stay positive.
"We still need to gel together as a team and I'm glad the game's around the corner on Wednesday so we can get straight into that.
"I assure all the fans we'll put in a better performance out there; you've just got to stick with us because we are going to keep trying. The talent's there and we'll sort it out.
"I don't think there was tension - we get paid to play so we should be able to deal with any circumstance. We can't be saying 'pressure there, pressure here.' We weren't good enough individually or as a team. As a whole, it wasn't good enough but we will fix it.
"I'm glad (the Reading game) is on Wednesday to get on with it and try and get the three points."
You can watch the full nufcTV interview with Jamaal Lascelles here