It’s vital that Newcastle bag a win against Bournemouth this weekend. We’ve been on a good run of form, and a few more wins could effectively secure our spot in the Premier League this season. To be honest, we’re now feeling very confident that we’ll stay in the Premier League, but it will be nice to get it confirmed mathematically.
That said, Bournemouth have done well this season, and Eddie Howe always sets his team up decisively. So, it’s important that we pick the right team to get the job done.
One man that could be the difference for us is Jonjo Shelvey. He’s made just 8 Premier League starts this season, mainly due to injury issues, and he hasn’t played a regular role for the team in 2019 yet.
That should change this weekend, though, as he could be the difference for us.
Bournemouth are a team that set up with a defensively strong unit. This can be hard to break down, and it requires a special type of player to get between the lines and create magic. That player could be Shelvey. He’s proven himself to be an expert passer of the ball, and if Benitez is seeking a bit of creativity, especially given Sean Longstaff’s absence, there is a spot for Shelvey in the team.
Not to mention, his lack of action this term is sure to have left him with a bit between his teeth. He’ll want to prove the manager wrong for not selecting him – and so a good performance could be forthcoming. If he plays well, remember, he’ll likely retain his place – and so that should help us out.
Shelvey could be the difference maker against the Cherries.
Thoughts?