OPINION
Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is undoubtedly one of the most talented footballers at the club, but he suddenly faces a fight to reclaim his first team spot.
The Englishman has been out for around a month or so due to injury and in that time he has seen Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff assert themselves in the Magpies side.
The two players have been absolutely incredible since the turn of the year, and they have now gone from reserve players to manager Rafael Benitez’s first choice duo in the middle of the park.
But where does that leave Shelvey? On the outside looking in is how it appears. The former Swansea City man, who is on a reported £70,000-per-week at the club [Source: Spotrac], has had to watch on while Longstaff, in particular, has become a dominant Premier League force.
Shelvey, from being one of the first names on Benitez’s team sheet, is now surely wondering where he fits into this Newcastle team. He will very likely have to settle for a bench role for the foreseeable future.
You simply cannot drop either Hayden or Longstaff at the moment. The two players have a terrific dynamic and are undoubtedly the best central midfield pairing at the club these days.
So while Shelvey may be more naturally talented than either of them, he’s likely going to find himself watching them from the substitutes bench.
It must be galling for him to consider, but his future at the club may even now be in doubt. The Daily Mail reported in January that West Ham United were considering a move for him, and if they come back in in the summer then Newcastle may now be open to parting with their former talisman.