Newcastle United will be without the services of Jonjo Shelvey for the next month.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference Magpies boss Rafa Benitez offered his stance on Jonjo Shelvey’s disciplinary problems, after the midfielder received a five game ban, as quoted by the club’s official website.
The 24-year-old has proven to be an important player for Newcastle so far this season, playing every single Championship game for the Tynesiders, and chipping in with three goals and six assists.
Benitez will have to make do without Shelvey until Newcastle’s home game against Rotherham United on January 21st.
Newcastle United’s Jonjo Shelvey
And the Magpies boss divulged his opinion on the midfielder’s troubles, during his pre-match press conference, and quoted via NUFC.co.uk:
“We know we will not have him for five games. Strange things happen on the pitch, and everyone is referring to this issue, but we continue to support him. We know he made a mistake. We know what they said, but it is very confused. I have been playing football all my life, someone was hearing one thing, someone else something else, others nothing at all. He knows he made a mistakes, but it is a big punishment for him and for us. He is a great player doing a great job for us. I hope he will be more mature.”
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez and Jonjo Shelvey after he was sent off
The former Swansea City midfielder’s absence could not have come at a worse time for Newcastle, what with such a busy fixture list ahead of them.
Home games against Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest are followed by a trip to Blackburn Rovers over the course of a seven day period.
A trip to Birmingham City in the 3rd round of the FA Cup is then followed by an away game at Brentford in the league, before Shelvey will once again be available for selection.
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