Newcastle play host to Everton at St. James’ Park on Wednesday evening.
Newcastle United will be desperate to stop the rot at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night as they welcome former manager Sam Allardyce and Everton to Tyneside – and fans are desperate to see Jonjo Shelvey start.
Shelvey, 25, has failed to start Newcastle’s last three matches despite captaining the Toon earlier in the season, left on the bench as unused substitute against Leicester City on Saturday evening.
It has seen Benitez prefer to use the likes of Mikel Merino, Mo Diame and Isaac Hayden in the middle of the park, but the latter was poor during Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Claude Puel’s Foxes.
Known for his intricate array of passing, both long and short, Shelvey can dictate the tempo of a match from his deep-lying role in central midfield but is more than willing to get stuck in, too.
The six-time England international is now in line for a start against Allardyce’s in-form Everton side, as Benitez looks to ipck a side capable of ending the Toon’s run of six defeats in seven league games.
Fans urged their Spanish boss to start the former Liverpool and Swansea City ace, with one fan even claiming Benitez has some “serious agendas” with certain players if he decides not to pick the midfielder.
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