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Rafa Benitez has praised Jamaal Lascelles’ professionalism and on-field impact - and believes the Newcastle United centre-back could play at the top level for at least the next decade.

Lascelles is in his debut season in the Premier League and has only really broken into the Magpies starting line-up in recent weeks.

Yet the 22-year-old has shown leadership qualities both on and off the field.

The former Nottingham Forest defender has been crucial in helping shore up the United defence, forming a youthful but effective partnership alongside Chancel Mbemba during Newcastle’s three-game unbeaten run.

However, it has been Lascelles’ honest and impassioned interviews off the field - most particularly his frank assessment of Newcastle’s display following the 3-1 defeat at Southampton earlier this month - which have really impressed both Benitez and United fans alike.

Lascelles’ determination to learn and improve, coupled with his already assured performances at such a young age, have convinced Benitez that the former England Under-21 international has an exciting future ahead of him.

“Really pleased,” Newcastle boss Benitez replied when asked how impressed he had been by Lascelles since arriving on Tyneside.

“From watching from outside you can see a young centre-back who normally needs to improve and make mistakes, but the reaction when he makes mistakes when we are training, he is always listening to you and tries to understand.

“He is doing really well and he will be a really good centre-back for the future because he is doing really well now and he is learning.

“He is so young for a centre-back; 22 is young for a centre-back.

“He still has 10 years to play at the maximum level.

“I can see someone who is very professional, who is keen to learn, and for a centre-back he has a great future.”

Watch Lee Ryder on Rafa's future