So sorry for seeing red...
JONJO Shelvey has broken his silence and apologised for what he says was a moment of madness on the opening day of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Newcastle United midfielder – arguably the club’s best player on his day – was sent off for stamping on Spurs and England midfielder Dele Alli during the 2-0 home loss.
After starring during the Magpies’ pre-season campaign, Shelvey was dismissed just 48 minutes of the new Premier League term, with Spurs taking full advantage of the extra man.
Speaking for the first time about the incident, the playmaker said: “You can learn from anything but I couldn’t tell to this day what I was doing and couldn’t put my finger on it.
“It was just a moment of madness – an error. I apologise for it.
“I have not come out and said anything or done an interview like anything like that.
“The only people I will apologise to is my team-mates, manager and the fans – nobody else outside of this football club. It’s nothing to do with them, they can print or say what they want.
“I know the people I let down and myself, but more importantly I let my teammates down.”
Shelvey has been irritated by the media storm that followed his red card but is focusing on this weekend’s game with Liverpool and eyeing his first start since the opening day.
He said: “It has been frustrating really. I just had a moment of madness in my game.
“I have just tried to put it to the back of my head but you get people chatting a load of rubbish about you. You don’t listen to them really.
“With the media side of the game now they will hammer you when you do something bad then they will try to be your mate when you do something right.
“You never forget who said what. You forget about that side of it.”
Shelvey has made two sub appearances for United’s first team and banked 90 minutes in the Under-23s against Norwich City.
He said: “I dropped down and asked the gaffer if I could play in the Under-23s.
“He didn’t really want me to but I sort of pleaded with him to let me play to get minutes.
“I am thankful for that because that has helped me when I’ve come on in the last two games.
“It has been stop-start but I want to get going now and show the Newcastle fans what I can do.
“I let them down in the first game of the season.
“I let my team-mates, manager and it’s time to repay the fans.”
Now Shelvey is eager to re-ignite his season and hopes he can help his team-mates beat his former club Liverpool tomorrow.
He told NUFC TV: “I had a very good pre-season and felt fit and sharp. Then that happened and it has been stopstart.
“Credit to the lads they came in and done really well but it is obviously frustrating not to be playing because I’m one of those players who wants to play in every minute of every game.
“I had to wait for my chance. I came on the other day and wanted to get minutes under my belt.”