Jonjo Shelvey: I used to fight with this Newcastle teammate, now we’re best friends
By Matt Farr
Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has made an honest admission about his relationship with midfield partner Jack Colback.
The pair have been a key cog in Newcastle’s midfield engine this season, and have formed a strong partnership of late in the absence of the injured Isaac Hayden.
But the Magpies duo also share a close knit relationship off the pitch, albeit with a few setbacks along the way – at least according to Shelvey.
The 25-year-old admitted to Sky Sports that he used to argue with Colback during matches, but he revealed that they are now the closest of friends.
He said: “Since I have come to the club he [Colback] has been superb with me. We used to have rows on the pitch but we are always doing things together off it now.”
Shelvey remains a key player for Newcastle chief Rafa Benitez, featuring in 38 matches across all competitions this season.
The former Liverpool ace has scored four goals and contributed 11 assists, and has been one of their most consistent performers during their surge to the top of the Championship table.
Colback, meanwhile, has played a more intermittent role. The 27-year-old has played 10 fewer games than Shelvey, but has appeared in Newcastle’s last eight league matches.
He began the campaign as backup to Benitez’s preferred central midfield pairing of Shelvey and Hayden, but an injury to the latter has seen Colback earn an opportunity to make the role his own in recent weeks.
With Hayden still sidelined, Colback is expected to retain his role in the Newcastle midfield for their upcoming clash with Birmingham on Saturday.
In other Newcastle news, these two brilliant Leeds and Newcastle players should be named in the team of the season.
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