Jonjo Shelvey has hit back at doubts over his work ethic in a Newcastle United fan Q & A.
A supporter asked the the former Liverpool midfielder why he is lazy, to which he was adamant that his running statistics are up to standard and that he couldn’t ‘get away’ with doing less than his teammates.
Shelvey tells critic to ‘be quiet’
“I think I give off this thing with my body language – the way I run,” he said.
“The way I am – I’m quite a laid back character but listen it might look that but the stats say different and as long as I’m doing it, being recorded and monitored, you can’t get away with not running.
“If I’m going to be honest, I’ll take not running at all and win the game comfortably, keep the ball and play possession football, but you can’t get away with anything these days.
“You need to roll your sleeves up, run and I feel that’s what I’m doing and the proof is in writing so Davy can be quiet.”
Shelvey ever-present for Newcastle since mid-January
Shelvey looks to be one of Steve Bruce’s most trusted lieutenants at this moment in time. He hasn’t missed a minute for Newcastle since the 1-0 loss at Sheffield United on 12 January, when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
With Jamaal Lascelles sidelined in the last two matches, Shelvey has donned the captain’s armband.
Transfer Tavern verdict
Shelvey’s place in the starting line-up has come under external scrutiny. Before Newcastle’s trip to Burnley, for instance, The Athletic correspondent Chris Waugh pondered whether it was ‘time to drop Shelvey’.
One of the players he is keeping out of the XI is Arsenal loanee Joe Willock, who has come off the bench to earn Newcastle four crucial points in their games against Spurs and West Ham.
It’s certainly intriguing to see such a critical question included in a club-run fan Q&A. As journalist Liam Kennedy suggested on Twitter, though, that it sounded like ‘something the player wanted to address’.
Still, it’s tempting to wonder whether Shelvey’s prospects at St James’ Park might be dealt a significant blow if they part company with Steve Bruce at the end of the season, as the former Aston Villa boss is seemingly a big fan.
In other news, this defender is said to be destined for Newcastle United.
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