Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey will soon finalise a clause in his contract that will add an extra year to his time at St. James' Park. 

The Lowdown: Shelvey's return to action

After missing a large chunk of the season with a hamstring injury, Shelvey has recently made a return to action, coming on as a late substitute in Newcastle's two previous Premier League games.

Having been at the club since January 2016, the midfielder is one of the longest-serving players currently at the Tyneside club.

And it seems as though the Magpies could be set to keep hold of the player for a little while longer.

The Latest: Contract extension

As reported by The Shields Gazette, once Shelvey makes his 200th appearance for Newcastle, which is expected to happen before the World Cup arrives as he is currently on 199, a year-long extension on his deal will be finalised.

As things stand, the midfielder's deal is set to run out in the summer, however, with the likelihood of him making at least one more appearance for the club imminent, it seems probable that the Englishman will be sticking with the Toon for the foreseeable future.

The Verdict: A good option for Howe

The previous Premier League season saw the 30-year-old, who Eddie Howe has described as being a "huge" player for the club, show how much of a useful midfield option he can be.

For example, across the 24 league games he played in, Shelvey ended up playing more passes into the final third of the pitch (91) than any other player at the club.

Even though Newcastle now have the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock as their midfield options, keeping Shelvey in the squad for this season and beyond will provide Howe with an extra set of legs and real experience in the heart of midfield.

Overall, this news will surely be a great boost for Howe and give the Toon veteran the chance to put to bed any concerns he may have had about his future at the club beyond this season.