Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey fractured his finger breaking up a training ground fight between captain Jamaal Lascelles and Mo Diame.

Lascelles and Diame are understood to have come to blows after an argument got out of control, prompting Shelvey to act as peace maker.

The former Liverpool and Swansea player leapt in between the two as things turned ugly and was caught by a flurry of punches as he tried to wrestle them apart.

The row is believed to have started during a feisty training session on Thursday in which Lascelles repeatedly described Diame, who has retired from international duty with Senegal as “lazy.”

The news is embarrassing for Newcastle as it comes on the same day that they announced Lascelles has signed a new six year contract, with manager Rafa Benitez praising his professionalism and attitude this season.