---
title: "Exclusive: Keith Gillespie doesn’t expect to see Shelvey in Newcastle defence again"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-keith-gillespie-doesnt-expect-to-see-shelvey-in-newcastle-defence-again-steve-bruce-pep-guardiola-jurgen-klopp-e102/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2021-05-25T05:00:54Z"
modified: "2021-05-25T05:00:54Z"
---

# Exclusive: Keith Gillespie doesn’t expect to see Shelvey in Newcastle defence again

**Former Newcastle United winger Keith Gillespie has told [The Transfer Tavern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/) in an exclusive interview that he does not expect to see Jonjo Shelvey lining up in defence in the near future.**

In what can only be described as a shock decision given that Shelvey’s trade has always been in midfield, manager [Steve Bruce decided to drop the 29-year-old back into defence](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steve-bruce-explains-jonjo-shelveys-20465841) in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the end of last month.

Albeit a surprise, such a ploy is obviously not unheard of, with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp having often done something similar with [Fernandinho](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fernandinho/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/26267/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=3&trainer_id=5672) and [Fabinho](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fabinho/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/225693/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=118) – usually because of injuries.

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It is not something Gillespie thinks Newcastle fans will see with Shelvey going forward, though, stressing that the former Liverpool and Swansea City man belongs in the centre of the pitch.

*“I don’t think that’s a long-term thing,”* Gillespie told **TT***. “You want somebody like Shelvey in the middle of the park, getting on the ball, dictating games. He’s got a wide range of passing.*

*“It was a surprising one for me seeing that happen, but I don’t think it’s something that they’d be looking at long term.”*

Indeed, definitely one of the more stranger things in what had already been a very strange Premier League season.