After failing to make England’s latest squad and being told why he wasn’t called up by Gareth Southate, Jonjo Shelvey has admitted he is unfazed by his omission once again, stressing that the only thing on his mind is performing consistently at club level for Newcastle United.
With midfielders Henderson, Delph and Winks all pulling out of the England squad, Southgate had an injury crisis in midfield, leading to many believing Shelvey may just receive a call-up, however the ex-Boro boss chose to include Burnley’s Jack Cork, West Brom’s Jake Livermore and Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook in his squad instead of Shelvey.
Southgate has since made a fairly feeble attempt to explain why he wasn’t called up, claiming his ‘quarter-back’ role at NUFC wasn’t what he was looking for, however Jonjo himself has responded to these rumours in perfect fashion.
Here’s what he’s had to say on the matter:
“I’ve said things in the past about the England set-up. It just is what it is. I mean, I’ve really not got an opinion on it at the minute,”
“I’ve obviously been back in the Newcastle team, which I worked hard to get back into, and my main goal at this moment in time is to stay in that team and try and obviously improve my performances, and then whatever will be will be.”
A mature response from Shelvey, who clearly isn’t letting it bother him.
It’s also great to hear him focus on his performances for his club and knuckle down to keep his place in the NUFC team before he thinks about England.
At the end of the day, if a fit and firing Jonjo Shelvey is performing consistently in the Premier League with us, I imagine Gareth Southgate will have little choice but to call him up.
His ability is there – it’s just consistency he needs to find.
