Newcastle United have been offered something of a warning by Jermaine Jenas.
Pundit Jermaine Jenas has told BBC Sport that Newcastle United need to get Jonjo Shelvey back into their starting line-up to kickstart his side’s attack.
The Magpies lost 1-0 away at Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, and manager Rafael Benitez will be hoping for better fortunes this weekend when his side take on his former club, Liverpool.
One of the problems Benitez has been facing in recent weeks is goals from attackers, as defender Jamaal Lascelles has scored two of Newcastle’s last three goals.
Even before that, centre back Ciaran Clark scored against West Ham United, and whilst Benitez will be pleased with the goalscoring output from his defenders, he will want more from his attackers.
Joselu has scored just once since arriving from Stoke City, Ayoze Perez hasn’t found the net this season, and whilst Matt Ritchie has racked up assists in recent weeks, he hasn’t scored yet either.
Now, one pundit is suggesting that bringing in midfielder Jonjo Shelvey could bring a major boost to Newcastle’s attacking output, just by adding more creativity to the side.
Shelvey, 25, was sent off one the opening day of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, and whilst he has served his three-match ban, he has been named on the bench for the last two games, meaning he has still only started once this term.
However, former Newcastle midfielder and current pundit Jermaine Jenas has told BBC Sport that he thinks Newcastle are a much better side when Shelvey plays, suggesting that a spell out of the side may have done Shelvey good, and believes the Magpies need to get him back into the side in place of Mikel Merino or Isaac Hayden.
“One way Benitez could address his problems in attack is by getting midfielder Shelvey in the right frame of mind and back into his starting line-up,” said Jenas. “It is clear to me that Newcastle are a better and more creative side with Shelvey than they are without him. The level of threat carried by the Magpies went through the roof the moment he came on as a 68th-minute substitute against Brighton.”
“Isaac Hayden is a decent footballer and very combative, and you can tell Mikel Merino likes getting on the ball and popping it around – but they are both a little bit safe in midfield. Shelvey tries things. He is a threat from distance and a good crosser of the ball, the type of player that attackers will love to play with.”
“Shelvey has not started since he let his team down with that red card against Spurs, and it has probably done him some good that they have gone on and won some games without him. It might have made him realise he has to take a good look at himself, and have the correct attitude when he plays, because otherwise he is going to stay on the bench. With the qualities he has got, Newcastle need him in their team. I think the kind of season they will now go on to have will depend on whether they can get him in form and get the best out of him. He is that important,” he added.
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