Jonjo Shelvey had a hamstring injury from the summer that he couldn’t shake off, so he underwent surgery to fix the problem and will now be sidelined for up to 12 weeks. Barring any setbacks in his recovery, the 30-year-old would return in early November.
Newcastle United only have two games that month before the 2022 World Cup begins, so Shelvey may not play a competitive fixture until late-December if there’s any issue with his rehabilitation. Despite this, Eddie Howe said he may name Shelvey in his Premier League squad, but this injury could raise uncertain over his long-term future.
The England international is out of contract next summer and is three appearances away from triggering a 12-month extension, but a lot can change in three months while Shelvey is injured. Not only are Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock making up the midfield with Sean Longstaff as cover, Howe could dip into the transfer market to strengthen the engine room.
Howe called the 30-year-old an important player when asked whether he’d still include Shelvey in his Premier League squad, so it is hard to see him being frozen out. But if playing time isn’t guaranteed upon his return because the squad is settled, there’s a slim risk his contract extension isn’t triggered.
Shelvey impressed for Newcastle during the tail end of last season, so he would have been a regular this campaign and will be gutted to be out of action for three months.
In other news, Dean Jones says Nicolas Pepe was open to Newcastle switch in January
