Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has suggested that Jonjo Shelvey is on the cusp of a return to first team action in what will be a significant boost for the Toon Army.
The midfielder has been out of action with a thigh injury for the majority of the season, making just 12 appearances in all competitions.
According to his manager, however, the playmaker, who is one of the Magpies’ star performers when fit, is now nearing a comeback.
Speaking in a press conference, as quoted by the Chronicle, he said: “JS is pushing now, training well. Longstaff and Hayden doing well and you have to take the positives out of it. It’s good for us.”
OPINION
Having Shelvey back in contention for a starting place can only be a good thing for Newcastle United. The midfielder is such an important creative player for them, and somebody with his range of passing and vision is all but impossible to replace, especially for a side struggling at the wrong end of the table. Competition for places will be higher than ever following the advent of Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden, but you would expect Shelvey, when fully fit, to walk back into the centre of the park. His absence has been keenly felt, and it’s a real shame that it has prevented him from linking up with Salomon Rondon in particular. No doubt a player of his abilities would relish the supply of a distributor as exceptional as Shelvey, and Benitez will be hoping that the two can form a decent understanding in the short time that they have left together this season.