Jonjo Shelvey made his first appearance since early January for Newcastle on Saturday, and when he came on after 79 minutes, we were still trailing Everton 2-1.
But his positive attacking play helped Newcastle to a fabulous come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Toffees.
It turns out that Jonjo was disappointed with some stories that Newcastle could sell him to West Ham for £20M this summer – partly because of the emergence of young local star Sean Longstaff.
But it’s obvious Jonjo is desperate to stay at Newcastle, and he wants to end the season in style and help Newcastle move up the table.
Jonjo Shelvey and Rafa Benitez during training
This is what the 27-year-old has said in the Chronicle today when asked what his goal was:
“Just to try and get back in the team. I need to end the season on a high,”
“People remember the last three months of the season; they don’t remember the start of the season. I think people go into the summer remembering the last three months.”
“That’s what I want to do; finish the season strongly, get back into the team, and try and fit into the gaffer’s plans again.”
“I’ve obviously done a lot at this club and I’ve always offered myself to play, so I just want to get back involved and get in the 18.”
“My aim is to be on people’s lips going into the summer, talking for the good reasons.”
“The only way I’m going to do that is by playing every week for Newcastle, and that’s my number one aim.”
We were impressed with Jonjo during the game but even more so with his comments after the game.
The player seems to love it at Newcastle, and he is determined to stay at the club and be successful.
It’s been a tough season for Jonjo – not doubt about that – and it’s mainly becasue of injuries.
But he now has the opportunity in the final 8 games to show everybody the skills he has and that he can continue to do an excellent job on Tyneside.
We hope that’s exactly what he does.
Comments welcome.
57 comments so far
martoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:02 PM
Comment #41ronaldo aarons@34 – You can sign up to a free login that allows you to look at 2 articles a week – that’s what I use!
All Aboot Toon
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:02 PM
Comment #42ronaldo
I’m paying attention.
martoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:04 PM
Comment #43As I’ve said before I like Perez but you just know will all the praise he has been getting recently that against Bournemouth he is going to have an absolute mare
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:06 PM
Comment #44Jib
Charlie Watts was a great fan of Charlie Parker and cut an album, ‘From One Charlie…’ featuring Parker’s stuff.
Ron Knee
Jacques Loussier’s obit was in last Saturday’s Grauniad.
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:08 PM
Comment #45Ron Knee
Mozart with drum machine added? Yuk!
Ron Knee
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:11 PM
Comment #46I’ll never forget that particular trip, lesh!
martoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:16 PM
Comment #47I’ve just noticed this on the BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47529346
Should make him a busy man!
TomaKaThor
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:24 PM
Comment #48There is no doubt Perez can be an infuriating player who can look none existent at times and runs like he is in treacle and my grandma could get more power behind a shot, but he must play because he has a knack of getting in the right place at the right time.
SuperShearer
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:28 PM
Comment #49Interesting statement from Shelvey – could be read as “I want to be part of this club and the fans will remember what I do for the remainder of the season” – OR… he’s saying “people only remember the end of the season and that’s when you can put yourself in the shop window”. My hope is he’s seen that competition for places in the team is HIGH and therefore for him to play he has to be at his best, and his best is the best we have so can’t wait for him to prove a point.
martoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 12:36 PM
Comment #50TomaKaThor @48 – Perez is also a very instinctive player as well – when he’s through on goal one on one with the keeper he invariably fails to score. However when the ball just comes to him and he has get a snap shot or header away then that is where most of his goals come from.
The next Mike Williamson
Mar 12, 2019 at 1:04 PM
Comment #51I was thinking the same Super Shearer. It might not necessarily be that he wants to leave or that he’s been told we will sell him, but he will know the way the club is run and with the emergence of Longstaff we might be thinking of cashing in. Personally I think he’s still our best midfielder.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 12, 2019 at 1:13 PM
Comment #52The next Mike Williamson,
Unless we want to be in another relegation battle there needs to be some serious money spent. Before we even begin there has to be replacements for Kenedy and Rondon, there’s 30-40M, we must definitely find upgrades for Dummet and Yedlin, only Clarke, Joselu and Manquillo should be allowed to leave and that’s not going to fetch much money, I suppose if Hayden is determined to go there’s 10M for the pot.
sing in the corner
Mar 12, 2019 at 1:23 PM
Comment #53I haven’t got a problem at all with Ayoze’s goal celebration. He has had barra loads of stick from fans for a good while and the fngers in the ears pose says it all.
Unless you are one of the fans who has been hammering him why should it upset / annoy you?
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 1:26 PM
Comment #54Ronaldo, thanks for those stats on Perez, it’s good to see confirmation of what we all believe, he’s consistently strong in defence, but his attack is improving. I said yesterday it’s the consistency over the course of a season which has been missing, if he can bring this to his game then he’ll be awesome. It’s just the fact the team struggles to score goals when he’s not in form that means his defensive ability becomes less well appreciated.
Certainly, on form, he’s an asset to the team, and recent form will probably have had some Continental teams as well as the Spanish National team sitting up and taking notice.
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 1:33 PM
Comment #55Oh, and on the goal celebration, I think we need to realise that there’s only one reason he sticks his fingers in his ears and it’s not because he’s trying to shut out the praise.
martoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 1:38 PM
Comment #56SuperShearer & The next Mike Williamson – I think you are reading far too much into Shelvey’s statement. He surely means he was playing quite well at the beginning of the season before he got injured but nobody remembers that because of the emergence of Longstaff etc.
martoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 2:11 PM
Comment #57Have I broke the blog or is this the revenge of Tuff? 😀