There's always drama of some description at Newcastle. This summer, among such other trivialities as the manager threatening to resign on the eve of the season, there was a dispute between the club hierarchy and players over bonuses. But Jamaal Lascelles picked up the phone, called chairman and owner Mike Ashley, and shortly afterward the dispute was solved. It's worth remembering at this point that Lascelles is 23.
Still, despite his age, it perhaps shouldn't be a huge surprise. Lascelles, who was appointed as Newcastle captain last year at age 22, has shown those ever-ephemeral qualities of leadership from an even younger age.