Jonjo Shelvey has vowed that he is willing to stay and fight for his place at Newcastle United.
The England international has been out for much of the season with a thigh injury, and has struggled to force his way back into the first team upon his return due to the impressive form of Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden.
The 27-year-old did come on in the latter stages of his side’s 3-2 win over Everton at the weekend, however, and looked like the influential playmaker of old.
Speaking to the Mirror, Shelvey said: “I still feel like I have got a lot to offer this club, and if I am at the top of my game then I can play at this club.
“I want to get back in the team.
“I need to end the season on a high. People remember the last three months of a season, not the start. I want to be on people’s lips for good reasons. I want to finish strongly to get into the team, into the gaffer’s plans again. I’ve done a lot at this club and want to be involved.”
OPINION
This really is good news for Newcastle United. When Shelvey is fit and firing on all cylinders there are few playmakers in the Premier League who can compete with his vision and range of passing. In many ways, he has been unfortunate that his injury lay off has coincided with the meteoric rise of Longstaff in the centre of the park, but now the youngster is out for the rest of the season, Shelvey has the perfect opportunity to really kick on and prove to Rafa Benitez that he can be a crucial part of this Toon side going forward. He looked sharp and creative against Everton, and with Salomon Rondon acting as a target man, and with Miguel Almiron looking to break in behind at the drop of a hat, you can’t help feeling that this is a team who would benefit massively from having a player like Shelvey pulling the strings from deep.