JOHNGIBSON The stage is set for Shelvey to show he has England class
MAGPIES LOOK TO JONJO TO BITE THE TERRIERS IN CRUNCH TYNESIDE CLASH
THE long wait is nearly over and aren’t we well pleased!
When your foot is flat to the floor after back-to-back home victories over Manchester United and Southampton, all you want to do is go again.
However, a pause has seemed like an eternity. Three weeks is an unbelievable time to sit fidgeting on the grid - but come tomorrow Huddersfield Town will be revved up and the duel will be on.
That being so, Jonjo Shelvey will hold centre stage spotlight.
Paul Merson, who could play a bit himself, believes Gareth Southgate missed a trick with Shelvey during the international break and he could be right.
In an age of stereotype, Shelvey bucks the trend.
He passes like an arrow straight at the very heart of a defence and on a good day kills the opposition.
With any artist there is going to be frustration and let-down but surely inventiveness will always beat the predictable. In United’s current team of hard grafters, Shelvey is a splash of colour.
As football is entertainment showbiz if you like - let us pay lip service to those who can brighten lives.
It has been suggested England’s door to the World Cup finals remains open for Shelvey - and Jamaal Lascelles
for that matter - but realistically I cannot see it.
Southgate would have made a call to arms before now if either was going to be Russia-bound.
Let both instead play what will be a crucial role in United’s survival fight.
This is a target match for Newcastle, just as Southampton was, and exactly the same scoreline would delight on all home territory. Town damaged United as early as the second game of a long season, taking three precious points at their place 1-0 and therefore the need for revenge is obvious. It simply cannot be allowed to happen again. Nor do I expect it to, I should add. However, United need their big players to step up to the plate. That means goalkeeper Martin Dubravka dominating the penalty box as always, Lascelles playing a typical skipper’s role of dominance and defiance, Shelvey and Mo Diame establishing themselves from kick off as the midfield dictators and chances not to be squandered by an attack line whose top goalscorer has a mere five goals entering the final run in.
Dwight Gayle may be United’s top gun as expected given the dearth of signings but his total is hardly worth a shrill of bugles.
As for Ismal Slimani becoming the saviour of Geordies he was brought to be, I have given up on that thought with his parent club Leicester City next up after tomorrow.
Alexsandar Mitrovic, similarly on loan, is scoring for fun at Fulham albeit a division down and internationally for Serbia while awaiting the World Cup finals. Fate is a fickle thing.
A happy Easter for a Geordie means three points, nothing less, and the rapidly-growing belief relegation is to be banished from our minds.
The alternative - being an April Fool a day early - is not an option.