Captain Jamaal Lascelles has called on Jonjo Shelvey to help inspire a new version of Newcastle United under head coach Steve Bruce, starting with Saturday’s clash with Burnley.
Shelvey has been one of the most instrumental players in our first Premier League campaign under Bruce, and Lascelles is hopeful that the midfielder will be able to feature at home to the Clarets this weekend having been forced to sit out our last three games through a hamstring injury.
Yet despite his recent absence, no first-team figure has scored more top-flight goals than the former England international, with Shelvey currently boasting a team-high five over 15 outings – more than double the group of seven who have scored twice thus far and four more than £40m record signing Joelinton.
Goals are not the only measure of success and with the Toon without a league win since beating Chelsea on January 18, Lascelles is keen to start afresh this weekend against Burnley to put back-to-back defeats firmly in the rear-view mirror.
“In terms of togetherness and team spirit, it’s really high,” Lascelles told NUFC TV. “In training, it’s intense. We get after each other, we demand a lot of each other and we’re getting a few lads back from injury, which is important.
Should Bruce change his system vs Burnley?
Yes
No
“Hopefully Jonjo is fit [to face Burnley] and we’ve made a few [tactical] changes. The lads have had to adapt to a different style of play which might take a little while to bed in but, hopefully, now two games is enough and we can get a win.”
Shelvey’s goals have not been the only way that the 28-year-old has helped to influence our performances in the Premier League under Bruce, as the former Liverpool and Swansea City man has helped to distribute play as well as anyone else.
No Toon player has amassed as many successful crosses (14) in the top-flight as Shelvey, per WhoScored data, despite the £16.2m-rated ace only playing just over half of our 27 matches.
Lascelles’ desire to see Shelvey pull the strings against Burnley is also well within reason as the six-time international has also produced the most key passes (27) and the second-most long passes (68) of any outfield Magpie – only Fabian Schar (76) has more.
In other Newcastle United news, a report has claimed the one thing a €30m forward must achieve to land a summer move to St. James’ Park.