SHEL OF A MAN
Jonjo sheds body fat to prove he’s key for Toon
JONJO SHELVEY sacrificed his summer to “smash the gym” and lose body fat, so he could remain part of Newcastle’s rebuild.
The former Liverpool and England midfielder has vowed to remain a big part of Eddie Howe’s plans and prove himself worthy of playing in the same midfield as Brazil star Bruno Guimaraes.
Shelvey spent a month in Turkey with a personal trainer and his family after finishing the season with a calf injury.
With the Tyneside club on the up and ready to spend millions to become contenders, Shelvey knew that despite having a good season last term he had to raise his levels again.
Tenacious
The 30-year-old admitted: “If I didn’t buy into it, I’d be out the door. I want to be part of it. I back myself against anyone – we’ve got some great players, you know what I mean?
“Since I’ve been here, it’s the strongest the squad has been and I just want to be part of it.
“I want to play as many games as possible and I back myself to do that.
“Don’t get me wrong, Bruno is a fantastic footballer, but there are going to be even more fantastic footballers joining the club. You have to raise your game constantly every day and strive to be better.”
Shelvey has an eye-catching range of passing and has added a tenacious defensive element to his game under
Howe. Looking ultra-trim on Newcastle’s pre-season trip to Austria, he said: “I’ve not really had a summer. I was injured at the back end of the season and I went away and did my rehab in Turkey and took my trainer with me. I smashed the gym.
“I didn’t do too much running, just went into the gym to build up my legs and body. I’m feeling the benefits from it. I was in Belek. I took the missus and kids and we stayed there for a month.
“We didn’t bother to come back and go somewhere else. It got a bit boring towards the end but it was a good trip.
“I’ve lost a load of body fat so I definitely feel better in myself.
“And I’m getting the balance between eating more so I’ve got the energy to play games, and that’s something I’m learning with Dan Hodges, the club’s sports scientist and the nutritionist.”
Asked about his motivation, Shelvey said: “I wouldn’t say it was because of players coming in,
“I back myself against any player, but with the way the game is going, you’ve got to get on board... or you fall by the wayside.
Intense
“A lot of the game is now based on stats, which may be right or wrong.
“But that’s the way it is and you get on board with it.
“I know my ability – everyone knows what I can do with a football.
“It’s just me keeping fit and showing the gaffer every day in training.
“You know what the gaffer is like, his sessions are very intense. As soon as Eddie came in, the intensity of the sessions went through the roof.
“Every drill is set up, they all lead
into each other. It’s been a breath of fresh air.”
Howe’s football obsession is rubbing off on his players.
Before, Shelvey would go home, switch off and play with his kids.
“Now I’m going home thinking about what I could have done better at training,” he said. “That can only help you in the future.
“I think we need to have a season like West Ham did, fighting for Europe. Qualifying for the Europa League, I feel that is the next step for this club.
“We know we have to stick together and use the team spirit from last season. You can see the spirit around the camp.
“There were so many singers around the camp after dinner the other day, people were actually volunteering. It’s just a great place to be at the moment. No, before you ask, I’m not a singer!”