Peter Beardsley lauds Jonjo Shelvey after Newcastle midfielder’s outing for under-23s

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Jonjo Shelvey was involved in Newcastle United’s under-23 side’s draw with Norwich City on Monday.

Peter Beardsley has told The Chronicle that Jonjo Shelvey was top class on and off the pitch after he featured for Newcastle United’s under-23 side on Monday night.

Shelvey had not played a competitive game since being sent off during the opening game of the season against Tottenham despite the fact that he was available for the Magpies’ Premier League clash with Swansea City on Sunday.

Instead, the midfielder was included in Beardsley’s squad against their Norwich City counterparts on Monday, and the boss could not praise his impact higher following the 2-2 draw.

“It was great for the young players to have 90 minutes with Jonjo Shelvey,” he told the Chronicle.

“We were intending to take him off, but Curtis Good had a groin strain. Because of that we took no risks.

“But the way Jonjo was around the group, he was top class.

“It is a big bonus for the young players to have those 90 minutes and the time with him during the pre-match period.”

The display and the praise from Beardsley will certainly be an encouraging sign for Rafa Benitez who may be struggling to decide when to bring Shelvey back into the fold.

The former Liverpool man certainly let the side down against Spurs, and with the Magpies winning their last two games without him, it is certainly not guaranteed that Shelvey will return for the first-team anytime soon.

But with Beardsley clearly impressed with Shelvey’s attitude, Benitez may perhaps be more willing to consider including him in his plans for their next game, against Stoke City this weekend.