Nobby Solano: Newcastle 25-year-old needs to find consistency
By Derek Smithson
Nobby Solano has urged Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey to find consistency in his game following the club’s return to the Premier League.
The 25-year-old has become a highly influential figure at St James’ Park following his arrival from Swansea in January 2016.
The central midfielder was unable to prevent the Magpies being relegated from the Premier League in the 2015/16 campaign, but recently played a major role in their title winning Championship season.
Rafael Benitez secured an automatic return to the top flight and are now preparing for life back in the Premier League.
Shelvey played a crucial role for his side and made 47 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring five goals and supplying 12 assists in return.
Former Newcastle favourite Solano has highlighted the qualities of the playmaker, but has stressed that he must now keep his standards at a high level on a regular basis.
“Shelvey is easily Newcastle’s best technical player and the club’s best footballer but his career has been strange,” Solano told the Chronicle. “He’s 25 now so I hope he can find the consistency because he really does make Newcastle tick when he wants to.
“I hope his career doesn’t go backwards any more and he can find his best form early in the season and keep it going.”
Shelvey proved to be a class above in the Championship last year and is getting another crack back in the Premier League.
The six-time capped England international already has vast experience in the top flight and has made 141 appearances in it.
He enjoyed a three-year spell at Liverpool between 2010-13 and managed to make 69 appearances for Liverpool.
However, he has suffered a drop off in recent years and will be looking to prove his qualities at Newcastle back in the Premier League.
In other Newcastle news, a Sky Sports analyst has delivered his verdict on the club’s major transfer target.
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