They say diamonds are forged in pressure.
That certainly rang true on Tuesday night as Kieran Trippier fizzed a pinpoint free-kick into the bottom corner of Jordan Pickford’s net.
Almost a month to the day since his mid-season arrival from Atletico Madrid, Trippier repaid a sizeable chunk of that bargain £12 million price-tag with the sweetest swing of his trusty right boot.
But a potentially season-defining 3-1 victory over Everton was about more than a Man of the Match performance from their England international right-back.
But, as the Magpies produced their most impressive performance of the Eddie Howe era, it was notable how many of the ‘old guard’ stepped up to the plate. As if to remind any prospective newcomers that they won’t be giving up their starting spot without a fight.
Jamaal Lascelles bounced back brilliantly from his first-half own goal. Joe Willock and Joelinton ran their socks off in central midfield. Ryan Fraser finally looks like the player who blossomed so brilliantly under Howe at Bournemouth.
Jonjo Shelvey, meanwhile, is under no illusions about what’s required if he’s to earn a new contract at St James’ Park.
“I’ve got 18 months left,” the 29-year-old told The Mail. “So it comes down to me to show the people in charge what I’m about.”
He’s certainly going about things in the right way. He scored an admittedly fortunate winner against Leeds United last time out. And, last night, Shelvey played his part as Newcastle secured successive Premier League triumphs for the first time since May 2021.
Does Jonjo Shelvey have a future at Eddie Howe’s Newcastle?
But if Newcastle are serious about going from relegation battlers to Champions League chasers, some difficult decisions will need to be made.
There’s no place in football for sentiment, especially not at a club with such bold ambitions. Regardless of whether Shelvey plays a major role in Howe’s own ‘Great Escape’, his future at St James’ Park looks uncertain over the next six months, let alone the next 18.
Bruno Guimaraes, the £33 million marquee signing from Lyon, will have his sights firmly fixed on Shelvey’s deep-lying role.
So will Kerem Demirbay. Assuming Newcastle plan to renew their interest in a man who turned down the Magpies last month in favour of staying at Bayer Leverkusen until the summer (FT).
“(Demirbay) is a complete midfielder,” former Hoffenheim chief Lutz Pfannenstiel told 90min of a man who became Leverkusen’s £27 million record signing in 2019.
“With a great balance between offensive creativity and hard defensive work. If a player in his position also can score, then you have the complete package.
“Demirbay can play in various positions. He is not just technically but also tactically strong. His ability to solve pressure situations as well as playing the deadly pass makes him very important.”
In some ways, Demiraby is Shelvey 2.0. An upgraded version of the former Liverpool man.
A midfielder blessed with supreme technical gifts, one capable of producing moments of spectacular, match-winning quality.
But someone also boasting the sort of energy and defensive awareness Shelvey no longer looks capable of offering.
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