I’VE PAID RAFA BACK FOR MY STAMP BAN, SAYS SHELVEY

JONJO SHELVEY believes he repaid his Newcastle team-mates with his point-saving assist against Liverpool after starting for the first time since his opening-day red card for a stamp on Dele Alli. Magpies boss Rafa Benitez had previously chosen to leave Shelvey on the bench since returning from his three-match ban but the midfielder was

restored for the visit of his former club. And Shelvey, whose exquisite pass laid on Joselu’s first-half equaliser, said: ‘It was just a moment of madness, the error (the stamp), and I owed my team and hopefully I repaid them. I know I can do things like that (the assist). It’s horrible being out the side but when the team are winning you know it’ll be harder to get back in. ‘Credit to the lads but the gaffer showed a lot of faith in me and I want to repay his trust. Rafa’s c.v. speaks for itself, he has a whole bunch of knowledge, he is a detailed coach and it is great to learn from someone like that.’ Benitez (right) said: ‘Jonjo has the quality on the ball. I told him before the game, you know how to play football, you just have to work hard and keep your head focused on the game and you will play well. ‘If he works as hard as he did today, he will get more chances to play.’ The promoted Magpies have now taken 10 points from their first seven games and are ninth in the table — and that is a source of comfort for the Spaniard. Benitez added: ‘I will not be greedy and I will just be happy with that.’ Meanwhile, financial entrepreneur Amanda Staveley was at St James’ Park yesterday. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley wants to sell the club and her presence has triggered speculation over an approach from the Middle East. The 44-year-old helped the ex-prime minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra sell Manchester City to Sheik Mansour in 2008 and has said she is interested in buying a Premier League club.