OPINION
Jonjo Shelvey might have admitted that he has finally seen the error to his ways but Newcastle United should still sell him in the summer.
The 25-year-old midfielder shared with the club’s official programme ahead of the clash with Manchester United on Sunday, that he realises his poor disciplinary record was costing his team.
“The penny’s sort of dropped now with me,” Shelvey told Newcastle’s Official Programme UNITED.
“I know what’s right and wrong, on and off the pitch, and I know what you can and can’t do.
“I’m just trying to stick by that every day, it’s probably taken a lot longer than what it should do to sink in, but I feel like I’m at that stage now.”
Shelvey has received two red cards this season, with him getting his marching orders against Tottenham and Everton.
The red card against Everton seemed to cause Rafa Benitez to lose faith in the midfielder, with him losing his place as a guaranteed starter.
The uncertainty surrounding his position in the Magpies’ squad caused West Ham to make an approach to sign him in January.
The Express previously reported that the Hammers were willing to spend £12million on Shelvey and were not put off by his £80,000-a-week wages.
However the 25-year-old stayed at the club, as according to the Chronicle Benitez didn’t want to strengthen a relegation rival.
This was the right decision to make in January as Newcastle United hardly made any signings of their own in the window, and they would have missed him if he left.
But the summer window is a different story.
Hopefully the Magpies’ ownership and behind the scene issues that appeared to stop them from making several signings in the winter window are sorted by the end of the season, as this will allow Shelvey to depart the club.
The 25-year-old has let Newcastle United down too many times, not just by receiving suspensions but by lackluster performances.
Shelvey has made 22 appearances for the Magpies during this campaign and has hardly set the world alight in those outings despite having the ability to do so.
The midfielder, who has six England caps, should be capable of running the show for Newcastle United, but for some reason he either looks uninterested or goes missing in games.
With Shelvey on £80,000-a-week, the money spent on his wages would be better used on another player who is more consistent and reliable.
Therefore, while Shelvey is featuring for the Magpies again this season and claims to have realised what he has done wrong in the past, Newcastle United should still sell him in the summer.