Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that the club could be handed a massive boost by having midfielder Jonjo Shelvey back for the clash against Arsenal in a double update on his missing stars.
The Spanish boss was forced to make do without either his central maestro or wing wizard against Manchester City before the international break and while the Scotland star is revealed to still be with the physio recovering from his setback, the former Liverpool playmaker is on the brink of returning against the Gunners this weekend.
Ahead of the clash at St James’ Park, Benitez told BBC Radio Newcastle’s Matthew Raisbeck: We have had Jonjo training, and Ritchie still with the physio, but they are pushing.
“These two are the kind of players that you have to stop them because they want to play and they are working really, really hard to be there.
“Still, we have some time, but at least Jonjo was training. If we don’t have any problems, he can be there. It’s too soon to say ‘yes’ but I am quite optimistic.”
Rafa: “Still, we have some time, but at least Jonjo was training. If we don’t have any problems, he can be there. It’s too soon to say ‘yes’ but I am quite optimistic.” #NUFC @bbcnewcastle
— Matthew Raisbeck (@raisbeck10) September 11, 2018
The Magpies sit third from bottom in the Premier League after picking up a point from their opening four games of the season.
Opinion
Having Shelvey back in the middle against Arsenal this weekend would be a massive boost for Benitez and his side, who have been desperately missing his creativity against some of the big boys of the top flight. There is not telling how matches against the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, both of which resulted in 2-1 defeats for Newcastle, might have gone if the English midfielder had been available to unlock the defence with his dangerous vision and passing. He really is the man to make the Magpies tick and former Swansea team mate Ki Sung-Yeung just has not lived up to expectation in his absence. Having Ritchie missing will be a blow but with the likes of Jacob Murphy waiting in the wings, it is certainly not as harmful to the side as Shelvey’s absence has been. If it was not already clear before he was forced to sit on the sidelines, the former Liverpool and Swansea man is irreplaceable to Benitez, and he needs him fit and firing to get the Magpies out of the bottom three sooner rather than later.