Injury expert: Shelvey ‘won’t start’ for Newcastle against Tottenham after early team news
Jonjo Shelvey is set to be included in the matchday squad when Newcastle face Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
That is according to medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Shelvey, 30, made a return from injury in Newcastle Under 23s’ win over Birmingham in the Premier League cup on Monday.
The midfielder has only made one appearance this season, playing 70 minutes on the opening day of the campaign.
Dinnery claims Shelvey’s recent outing has put him firmly in contention to make a second league appearance of the season on Sunday.
“He should be there or thereabouts, it’s promising,” Dinnery told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“Do I think he will start against Tottenham? Probably not, he won’t be fit enough. We know this is his second calf strain of the season.
“He carried one through pre-season. A lot of problems come from missing that portion of your pre-season programme.
“That will impact him down the line. the research says, the less work you do in pre-season, the more likely you are to get injured.
“Under Bruce, Shelvey was at one point the only player to start every Premier League game for Newcastle.
“He is a vital player under Bruce so again, with his future in doubt, would a new manager throw him in?
“Last time he came back he was integrated gradually and I expect that to be the same plan this time around.
“I do think he could play some part at the weekend.”
In other news, Newcastle have been tipped to sign Tarkowski as the player’s ex-teammate revealed a “great offer” has been tabled.