Sou right on Shelvey

THERE was a certain irony in Graeme Souness panning Jonjo Shelvey for stamping on Dele Alli, but the former Liverpool hardman was spot on – your captain cannot be doing that. I can see why Rafa Benitez gives Shelvey the Newcastle United armband, he probably thinks by doing so he is going to iron him out.

But with players like that, managers are better off saying, ‘Just go and do your stuff and I’ll accept I’m going to lose you for five or six games a season through petulance’.

Ciaran Clark would be a much better bet as skipper at St James’ Park.