Newcastle in crisis after Jonjo Shelvey breaks finger while splitting up training ground scrap between Jamaal Lascelles and Mo Diame

JONJO SHELVEY fractured his hand trying to break up an amazing training-ground scrap at Newcastle.

The Toon midfielder jumped in when captain Jamaal Lascelles and Mo Diame traded punches at the club’s Darsley Park centre.

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Shelvey, who has just returned from a ban after a red card against Tottenham on the opening weekend of the season, now has his left hand in a cast.

The midfielder became involved as Lascelles and Diame swapped insults before squaring up to each other during a fiery session.

Lascelles repeatedly called Diame “lazy” as the club attempted to keep players motivated during the two-week international window.

Diame, who retired from Senegal duty in March, responded with an insult and the pair then started thumping each other.

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CAST IN A KEY ROLE EXCLUSIVE Jonjo Shelvey breaks finger but the Newcastle star will play on in a cast

As Shelvey tried to break it up, he got caught in the flurry of punches and believes he fractured his left hand.

The England international immediately went for treatment and will be monitored before his team’s clash at Southampton next Sunday.

Rafa Benitez’s side have made a decent start to the season and went into the break ninth in the Premier League.

The Spanish boss is well known for encouraging feisty training sessions — but did not expect this one to turn into a brawl.

Thursday’s incident came shortly before it was announced Lascelles had signed a new six-year contract. The defender, 23, has penned fresh terms to keep him at St James’ Park until 2023.

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He still had three years left on his original deal.

Lascelles signed that when he joined from Nottingham Forest in a £7million double deal with goalkeeper Karl Darlow in 2014.

He said: “I’m really happy here and want to take the club as high as it can go.”