Jonjo Shelvey spent three years at Premier League outfit Liverpool before leaving for Swansea City in 2013.
Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has admitted that he made a mistake in walking away from Liverpool six years ago as he prepares to reunite with his former club on Saturday, while speaking to the Chronicle.
Shelvey made 69 appearances in three years at Anfield but jumped at the chance to play more regular first-team football in the summer of 2013, joining Swansea City for a £5 million fee, as reported by the BBC.
But, despite earning six England caps and establishing himself in the top flight during spells at Swansea and Newcastle, the 27-year-old has never really lived up to the potential he showed during his early days in Liverpool colours.
Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s home game against Liverpool on Saturday evening, Shelvey admits that he would not make the same decision if he could turn back the clock.
“I probably shouldn’t have left Liverpool,” the one-time Charlton Athletic youngster said.
“I had the option to stay but I felt I had to go away as I was at that age where I wanted to play football matches.
“You’d get a game one week, big players would come back and you’d be out of the team next week. I came away from Liverpool and kinda had regrets.”
Shelvey is expected to be on the move again this summer with the Sun (3 March, page 69) reporting that he is set to sign for West Ham in a deal that is expected to cost £20 million.
The mercurial play-maker has forced his way back into Newcastle’s starting XI in recent weeks, however, and it remains to be seen whether Rafa Benitez has changed his mind about Shelvey’s future.
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