Mikel Merino's early form means Jonjo Shelvey is no longer indispensable at Newcastle United
Time passed slowly for Jonjo Shelvey in his first few months at Newcastle United; an impressive performance in a debut victory over West Ham in January 2016 quickly felt like a long-lost dream. By the end of his first six months on Tyneside, he was out of the team, Newcastle were relegated and there was a sense of deja vu among the St. James Park faithful.
It wasn’t hard to decipher why Newcastle, in spite of spending a fair bit of money across two transfer windows in 2015/16, dropped out of the Premier League with a whimper. Far too many players had the talent but lacked the necessary temperament. Rafa Benitez’s decision to take Shelvey out of the team for the majority of his initial ten-game spell made the midfielder seem like another symptom of the very deep problem.
His passing ability is to be marvelled at and there aren’t many English players with a better skill set. But his risky temperament and inconsistency made him the definition of a luxury player. The trouble was that it also defined most of his teammates.
Everything changed the following summer. Benitez sucked the majority of the poison out of the club; Moussa Sissoko, Gini Wijnaldum and Daryl Janmaat were the most high profile departures. Weeks went by, but from September onwards, Shelvey went from being a first team regular to being the linchpin of the team. Though his reputation as a controversial figure stands after a number of suspensions, the fact that Shelvey would not be selected, soon became inconceivable as the Magpies returned to the Premier League as Championship winners.
Not only can he pass a ball better than most, but he is a rare breed of English midfielders in that he can control the tempo of a game without a second thought. A lot, some say too much, of Newcastle’s play goes through the 25-year-old.
Yet, as his current side travels to face his former club, Swansea City, on Sunday, suddenly Shelvey is on the periphery again. His temper got the better of him on the opening day when, as captain, he stamped on Tottenham’s Dele Alli and his subsequent red card earned him a three-match ban, which he has now served. Mikel Merino’s classy performance in the victory over West Ham last time out means life can still go on without the man who kept things ticking and a recall is far from guaranteed.
For all the negativity that has, quite justifiably, surrounded Newcastle after an underwhelming and possibly self-destructive transfer window, they have definitely found a gem in the Spain under-21 international, who scored against Italy this week. Clearly, the man signed from Borussia Dortmund with an obligation to buy at the end of the season has an understanding of the game that goes beyond his years and beyond many of those he plays alongside, too.
There were no pinpoint 50-yard passes against West Ham, just a quiet, unassuming but classily dominant display. Every ball was won, on the ground and in the air, and he was never afraid to carry it forward. West Ham’s disenchanted midfield led by Mark Noble and Declan Rice made it easy for him. With Renato Sanches being a likely opponent on Sunday, perhaps, history will not be repeated. But Merino’s complete display means he cannot be dropped.
Benitez’s obsession with playing two central midfielders is clear, and it has also been the reason behind a huge plus so far this season. Going forward, the plan is coming together, but the defensive shape and organization have never been questioned.
Isaac Hayden, much like Merino and Shelvey, has grown into a superb player under the manager’s tutelage, mainly because of the system he plays in. Hayden and the double pivot keep things simple and the call to bring Shelvey in alongside Merino, or even both, should be ignored for good reason.
Preparations for this game could not have been more turbulent. Owing to the international break, the momentum built after beating West Ham, a result that seemed to cancel out any previous concerns, has evaporated and the nerves have returned.
Swansea, on the other hand, will be bouncing at the Liberty Stadium with Wilfried Bony returning to the club. Renato Sanches, a powerful, technical midfielder whom Paul Clement has lured on loan from his former club Bayern Munich is another exciting addition. Rafa Benitez’s health has also been an issue. The most influential man at Newcastle and the beacon of hope for thousands could be forced to miss the game after an operation on an old hernia wound.
As Shelvey returns from a three-match ban for violent conduct, Aleksandar Mitrovic starts another. The Serbian striker has split opinion for the same reasons as Shelvey- his temperament and his consistency. But with eight goals in eight games internationally and two in two for Newcastle, his absence could hardly have come at a worse time for the club. Dwight Gayle’s fitness has been an issue and there were rumours that he was to be sold to Fulham before the transfer deadline. Another summer signing, in Joselu, could be the saviour.
A goal and an all round excellent striker performance give hope not only for Sunday but also the rest of the season. On early viewing, even with an unclear budget, Benitez has still been able to assemble a good, if slightly thin, squad.
The biggest issue from Deadline Day was failing to sign a left-back. Paul Dummett is injured and now it appears his impressive stand-in Chancel Mbemba has joined him on the treatment table. Just how Benitez, or more likely his assistant Paco, will deal with this in Tyne has a lot of fans waiting with bated breath.
Newcastle could hardly be facing Swansea in worse shape despite winning their last game convincingly. Mikel Merino was, arguably, the man of the match, and looks to be the man to take some of the creative strain off Jonjo Shelvey. In the immediate future, at least, it is the Spaniard who simply cannot miss out, meaning the regular talisman must be patient.