Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles has held player crisis talks after defeat to Everton.

Rafa Benitez' struggling side have now picked up just one point from their last eight games and defeat at Arsenal tomorrow will almost certainly see them tumble into the relegation zone.

“I wouldn't say it was calm but now that I'm back, I'm definitely going to be on to people," said Lascelles, who made his comeback against Everton after six weeks out through injury.

“There were a few home truths said. I don't want to leave it too late for things like that to be said.

“The reality is we're not in a great position and sometimes things need to be said that players do not want to hear.

“Hopefully, it will get a reaction.

“It's not like a few years back when I had a go. It's nothing like that at all.

“It's not as if the boys are not working hard – there's none of that so that is a good thing.

“But I think now is the time for characters and big personalities to come out of their shells, take the game by two hands and say 'come on lads, roll your sleeves up and let's go' because that's what it is going to take to get out of it.

“I don't want to be having this conversation about the situation we're in but that is how it is."