Lascelles struggled as the Magpies lost their opening two games in the Championship and was left out against Reading, when the promotion favourites finally got their campaign up and running.
It proved a temporary exile and Saturday evening, the former Nottingham Forest centre-half will lead out the visitors as they search for a fifth straight win in all competitions at Derby.
And looking back, he believes being left out early on was just what he needed. “It was a wake up call for me,” said Lascelles. “I’m glad he did it because it sets the standards for the rest of the team.
“If you are not pulling your weight, you will be out of the team. I’m not one to sulk and think, ‘why have I been dropped?’. It’s a long season and the manager told us he is going to rotate. Everybody knows what the task is and what is needed. So we’re all going to listen to him and get on with it.”
The picture looks a lot brighter for Newcastle now than it did a few weeks ago and Lascelles feels Benitez’ new-looked side is starting to click. “Everybody is doing their job,” he said. “It might take time to totally gel but against Brighton, I thought we were starting to do that.”
Rams boss Nigel Pearson was twice caretaker manager of Newcastle but despite the game being live on television he does not believe there is extra pressure on his team.
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“It’s about the game and not the occasion,” he said. “You have to enjoy it and for the players it is the type of game they want to be involved in.
“In this division, there are big differences in the type of atmospheres you play in and you have to deal with it. It’s one of the challenges of being a success in the division.
“You need a single-minded group of players and that’s what we’re trying to work towards.”