SUPER MAC Opportunity is there for Shelvey to turn around Toon season

WHAT I don’t want is Jonjo Shelvey to become the Danny Cipriani of football.

You know what I mean, hugely gifted but not picked by England because he is considered to carry too much baggage.

Rather, I am desperate for Shelvey’s radar range of passing to launch United towards safety - starting today against Brighton - and at the same time catapult him back into the national squad.

I was interested to hear Danny Murphy on radio before the match with Spain saying Gareth Southgate ought to pick Shelvey because he is the only player in the country who can change a game with a 50-yard pass of unerring accuracy.

I know, it was ironic England should go on to produce a magical counter-attacking performance and a victory - but what Murphy said still holds water.

However, I think Southgate is a man who does not like players with baggage and Shelvey’s red cards and occasional rushes of blood outweigh his talent in the eyes of the England manager.

Just as rugby ace Cipriani’s gifts were not deemed enough to get him into Eddie Jones’ training squad of 36 this week because he can be a liability.

I know one thing – I would have loved to have played with Shelvey. I would have been the making of him and him the making of me.

He does now what Terry Hibbitt did in my Newcastle team – only he does not have the centreforward to turn his attributes into goals.

The moment the ball lands at Shelvey’s feet he looks up and he needs to spot the runner in that split -second. Then he lets the ball go but what if nobody makes the run, cannot see it or does not have the legs to go?

Shelvey will only save United if someone can convert the opportunities he makes. Otherwise a great ball can look like a stray ball. Who can see those runs? Not Joselu, who does not want to expose himself by getting into positions where he dare not miss.

Salomon Rondon can see them – when he is fit and in the mood, which so far has not been anywhere like enough times. Maybe Ayoze Perez can too but he is a bit lightweight physically. So there we are, clutching at straws. I always maintained my goals guaranteed Newcastle would not be relegated before a ball was kicked in a new season.

If a striker had the ability to score around 25 goals his team was not going down. My partner John Tudor could get 15 or more and so we were looking at mid-table at least.

Like it or not, crunch time has arrived for the current United squad.

Today is when it all starts, the recovery, the points gathering – or doesn’t!

I reckon a team needs 20 points by Christmas to be confident of staying up and that means United require 18 from their next 10 matches. It is a tall order.

They have to win their home games and Brighton is a must. Chris Hughton’s side are awful away from home but a draw would be a terrible result for the Magpies. We cannot wait any longer for a first victory.

Over to you Jonjo Shelvey - but please someone up front give him the chance to play you in!

I would have loved to have played with Shelvey. I would have been the making of him and him the making of me.