CONTRACT talks with Jamaal Lascelles are a priority for Newcastle United, with the club captain very much part of Eddie Howe's long-term thinking at St James' Park.

Lascelles' long-term future looked uncertain in the summer on the back of a Premier League season in which he'd only made two starts for the Magpies. But the 30-year-old has re-established himself in Newcastle's side this term, taking advantage of his opportunity after Sven Botman was sidelined with a knee injury.

Botman is now fit but Lascelles has so far managed to retain his place in Howe's starting XI, though he was forced off in the first half of Saturday's defeat at Luton with a thigh injury.

That problem has been monitored by club's medics and while it's not clear whether he'll be fit to face his former side Nottingham Forest at St James' Park today, what's absolutely not in doubt is the fact Lascelles is part of Howe's plans for the future.

The centre-half has just six months left on his contract that is due to expire at the end of this season. Discussions between the club and Lascelles' representatives are ongoing and Howe has stressed to bosses the importance of agreeing a new deal with his captain, who the head coach believes has made significant improvements in recent months.

"Jamaal has done really, really well this season and his game has come on in lots of ways," said Howe.

"Firstly, defensively, he has always been very strong aerially and you saw that recently against Fulham.

"His defensive understanding of what we want him to do has been very good from day one.

"His use of the ball has improved, he looks really comfortable in the team at the moment, and he’s playing some really good football."

Howe added: "I’m sure contract talks with Jamaal - I’m just trying to wrack my brain as to where his contract is at - but he is part of our long-term future, for sure."

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Newcastle welcome struggling Forest in today's 12.30pm kick-off in search of a much-needed boost after Saturday's Luton setback, the latest troubling defeat on the road. The Magpies are now seven points off the top four.

Howe said: "We're back at home and this game can't come soon enough really.

"We made no excuses at Luton, we just weren't where we needed to be to win the game. I've been asked many times this season about our away form, all we can do is try and respond on the pitch and put it right. Our home form has been very strong."

Forest head for St James' Park winless in seven and just two points above the relegation zone, with new boss Nuno Espirito Santo having lost his opening game in charge against Bournemouth at the weekend.

“It is a tough league, but the table is not our focus now," said Nuno, ahead of today's game.

"We have to focus on what we have to improve in the game and during training sessions and improve the players.

“If we focus on that (the table) maybe we will get scared, and that is not the point. We have to get out of this situation because it doesn’t feel good.”

NEWCASTLE PROBABLE XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; Miley, Bruno, Longstaff; Almiron, Gordon, Wilson