In recent years Jonjo Shelvey has cut one of the most frustrated figures in English football. The Newcastle United midfielder was once a player that some touted to be a star of tomorrow, but the all the hype around him subsided following poor performances and a few difficult years in the Premier League.
Once with Liverpool, Shelvey was the understudy to Steven Gerrard. The eponymous Reds midfielder is everything that an English midfielder could dream of being, and Shelvey had the chance to work alongside him.
With Gerrard slowly declining due to his age, some thought it was Shelvey’s chance to replace him. Something he failed to do.
A move to Swansea in 2013 followed and he became a signal of intent for the Welsh side. However, his outrageous moments such as when he scored from just inside Aston Villa’s half with a fine strike were few and far between and they made way for poor and disinterested performances.
He was once again moved on and suffered relegation with Newcastle United.
Since going down to the Championship though he has become a far better player. He made 38 starts last season scoring five goals and assisting his teammates eight times.
He also managed to change the performances that caused the fans to dislike him. He went from looking tired and bored to becoming a player that was everywhere for Newcastle. Whether he was playing a killer pass or putting in a vital block, manager Rafael Benitez really got the best out of him.
He earned his return to the Premier League following an outstanding season on the field performance wise. It is now his chance to put things right in a league that chewed him up and spat him out.
This is where the midfielder becomes crucial to their chances as the Magpies will be in desperate need of their best players hitting top form throughout the campaign. Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie and Shelvey will be vital and if they can sustain high performances throughout the season then Benitez’s side will have a chance of surviving.
On a more personal note, it gives the midfielder a chance to show that the Premier League isn't a step too far. If he can continue on his improvement and fire Newcastle to safety, then it will once again have people talking about his potential.
Should he fail this season though, it would be the fourth failure with three different teams, and it could tarnish his name as a player that was never quite good enough for the Premier League.
