Gary Rowett backs the reversal of Newcastle United’s recent red cards

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Shelvey and Paul Dummett had their suspensions overturned by the FA, meaning they will be available against Birmingham City on Saturday.

Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett has backed the FA’s decision to rescind the red cards given to Newcastle United duo Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett – even though his side travel to St James’ Park on Saturday, the Birmingham Mail reports.

The Magpies were left incensed with rookie referee Stephen Martin after he reduced them to nine men inside the first half of their 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest last Friday, with Shelvey given his marching orders for a petulant spat with Henri Lansbury before the same player tumbled under minimal contact in the box under pressure from last-man Dummett.

However, the FA decided to overturn their respective four and one game bans, meaning they will both be available to manager Rafael Benitez as he looks to end a run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions.

And Rowett, to his credit, has admitted that justice has been done although his side face a daunting task at the league leaders a week after losing 3-0 at home to Barnsley, although he believes Shelvey’s reputation preceeded him in the eys of the referee.

“If I am being really brutally honest I don’t think either of those decisions were the right decisions on the day,” the highly-rated manager told the Birmingham Mail

“I think he [Shelvey] was very unlucky to get sent off, I couldn’t see much in the incident. I think that probably Jonjo’s reputation in that sense has probably made the decision happen – which in unfair. He is an excellent footballer.

“And I also felt the Dummett one was not a penalty either.

“Yes I would have loved those to players to have not been available for Newcastle but I think justice-wise they should be playing.”

Shelvey has been arguably the most impressive performer in the second tier this season, though the disciplinary issues that blighted his early career have begun to resurface of late.

The former Liverpool midfielder recently pleaded not guilty to a charge of using racially abusive language against Wolves midfielder Romain Saiss in September but faces a five game ban.