There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Newcastle have been missing something this season, beyond luck that is.
Still without a win since the opening day and very few goals to our name, it’s clear that we’re missing a creative spark to our attacking play in the early days of the season. Compared to the back end of last season, Newcastle looks positively clueless up front.
Obviously, we haven’t been helped by ridiculous VAR decisions and a never-ending stream of injuries, but there is one injury that is beginning to stand out as being a lot more key than we realised – Jonjo Shelvey.
Shelvey hasn’t kicked a ball for United since the pre-season game against Benfica where he picked up a hamstring injury which ultimately required surgery. It was initially thought that the injury would keep him out until after the World Cup, but it’s starting to look like he might make it back earlier than expected, and by God, we need him.
Keith Downie recently spoke to GIVEMESPORT and also believes that Newcastle are missing the 30-year-old: “It’s amazing. The longer these performances go on, where they’re struggling to create, the more you think, you know what, this team actually misses Jonjo Shelvey. With Shelvey in there last season, just sitting and taking the ball off the defence, he was actually allowing Bruno to push on and get involved and get up and score goals. I don’t think he’s had a goal or an assist yet this season.”
It’s hard to argue with what Downie is saying here. Also, we are blatantly missing Shelvey’s ability to pick out a pass at any range, something that will definitely come in handy now we have Isak to aim for.
Jonjo is back in training and looking extremely fit, somehow in even better shape than he was in pre-season when he looked to be in the shape of his life. Early November is being touted as a possible comeback date, but hopefully, we can start to pick up wins before then.
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