The Newcastle United midfielder has come back with a change of mind-set following his latest red card.
Jonjo Shelvey has told Sky Sports that he is working on trying to control his temper after jeopardising his Newcastle United career with his on-field behaviour.
The Magpies midfielder was sent off for stamping on Tottenham Hotspur prodigy Dele Alli on the opening weekend of the season – his fourth career red card.
Newcastle were holding the title hopefuls at the time but went on to lose 2-0 following Shelvey’s dismissal, with Alli among the Spurs goalscorers.
Shelvey has revealed to Sky Sports that manager Rafael Benitez came down hard on him after that incident and that only his change of mind-set since has saved his Newcastle career.
“He had a go at me after the Tottenham game, which was right to be honest,” Shelvey is quoted by Sky Sports as saying. “It was a stupid mistake and we have now drawn a line under it.
“I feel like the last four or five games, I have come back in a totally different mind-set. I know for a fact that had I not come back with a different mind-set, then my career would probably only go one way and I did not want that.”
Upon finishing his three-match suspension following the red card against Spurs, the 25-year-old was dropped to the bench by Benitez for Newcastle’s next two matches.
Shelvey added that he has noticed an increased effort from opposing teams to try to provoke him since he returned to the side, but is confident that he can keep his head from now on.
“Teams do try and provoke you because they know they may get a reaction out of you,” he told Sky Sports. “And it has happened the last five or six weeks, but I just seem to block it out. So fingers crossed, it keeps happening.”
Monday’s visit to Burnley is expected to be Shelvey’s fourth successive start for Newcastle.
He has not received a yellow card in his previous three matches. Has he finally learned his lesson?
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