Potential Shelvey departure would sting Newcastle the most

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He may have had a stop-start season, but Jonjo Shelvey leaving Newcastle United this summer would sting them the most out of any other player.

The former Liverpool man has had to contend with a troublesome thigh injury this term, which has required trips to Barcelona to see a specialist (Chronicle Live).

He returned to training last month when the club went to Spain for warm weather training, but has failed to reclaim his place in the starting XI.

In the last two Premier League games he has been afforded just 18 minutes of game time, with Ki Sung-yueng and then Mo Diame replacing the injured Sean Longstaff.

He is seemingly way down the pecking order at the moment, and that has only fuelled speculation that he could leave the club this summer.

TBR’s view

Newcastle would be foolish to allow Shelvey to depart.

He may have had an interrupted season, but the Englishman remains the club’s best midfielder when on song.

He brings qualities that no one else can. His abilities to orchestrate from deep and play passes between the lines are what set him apart from the others.

Ki is safe and tidy on the ball, but Shelvey is a bit more of a risk taker.

His injury problems have left him in an unfortunate situation in that, Rafa Benitez has been unable to get him back in the team ahead of Isaac Hayden, who doesn’t deserve dropping.

Chronicle Live report that West Ham are waiting in the wings to snap Shelvey up this summer, but it would be a bad move on the part of a club that generally struggles to create chances and score goals in the Premier League.