[ad_pod ]Rafa Benitez was in attendance - along with 185 fans - for Florian Lejeune's shock return to action in black and white as the Frenchman played 45 minutes with the Under 23's versus Norwich on a cold Monday night.

What's the word?

Having got his first half of football this season under his belt, the 27-year-old took to Twitter to express his own relief at being back on the pitch...

The former Eibar man suffered a cruciate ligament injury during training in July and it was presumed that he wouldn't kick a ball again this year - prompting the signing of Federico Fernandez from Swansea - however his remarkable recovery should come as a huge boost for the Magpies and Benitez will be hoping he can return to full fitness as soon as possible.

Is Lascelles' time up?

The inspired form of Fabian Schar, Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark at the heart of the Toon defence has meant that former captain Jamaal Lascelles has dropped to the bench - the return of Lejeune could mean that the England international's career at St James Park may well be over.

Benitez now has five quality, senior centre-backs at his disposal - far too many to rotate between as the likes of Fulham show that constant chopping and changing is detrimental to success - and the Spaniard seems to have made his mind up as to who his best options are

Therefore, with financial backing from Mike Ashley never guaranteed, a wise move would be to sell the most valuable of the five: Lascelles.

There would undoubtedly be no shortage of suitors for the former Nottingham Forest man and cashing in on the 25-year-old could be huge in Benitez's quest to find a new number 10 - Miguel Almiron has been linked with the Magpies and such a signing would surely command a pretty sizeable fee.

What do you think, Newcastle fans? Should the club cash in on the out-of-favour Lascelles as Lejeune's return nears? Let us know by voting in the poll below...

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