Jonjo Shelvey has handed some potentially positive news to Newcastle fans, claiming he has real chance of being fit for Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace.
Shelvey, who has been arguably the club’s best player so far this season, missed the Magpie’s clash with Burnley last weekend due to a calf strain with Steve Bruce not willing to risk the player at Turf Moor.
Here’s what the stand-in skipper said about his current fitness during the squad’s visit to the RVI yesterday:
“It was probably key to miss one game rather than six or seven if I’d made it worse, but I should be back training by Thursday so it’ll give me a chance to play on Saturday.
“I didn’t want to miss the game on Saturday, I still asked if I could play but the medical team made the decision to miss the game. It’s just horrible not being able to help the team. Before that game everything had been going so well, and I just wanted to keep that going.
“Hopefully the game I’ve missed, I can just put that aside and get back to winning ways and hopefully another goal on Saturday.”
Shelvey has been instrumental in Newcastle’s decent showing in the first half of the season and has already equalled his highest season’s goal tally for the club with 5 strikes so far this campaign.
He was handed the armband by Bruce following Jamaal Lascelles lengthy injury and the England international has repaid the faith shown in him by putting in some stellar performances in the Magpie’s midfield.
With Sean Longstaff looking out of sorts at Burnley, a fully fit and returning Jonjo Shelvey is exactly what the club needs to have the best chance of picking up 3 points at St James’ Park on Saturday.
