We are all United here, claims schemer Jonjo
SHELVEY DENIES SPLITS IN TOON’S CAMP
JONJO Shelvey has revealed “everybody” at Newcastle United is now reading from the same page – despite suggestions of a split camp earlier this season.
Reports of boss Steve Bruce losing the dressing room were also rife during a horrendous run of results earlier this year which put Newcastle on the brink of the relegation zone.
However, the Magpies went into their clash with West Ham today with a six-point cushion between themselves and Fulham in 18th place and Shelvey is determined to extend it even further.
The midfielder was asked about the dynamics in the dressing room and the relationship between players and coaches and said: “Everybody will have a say to be fair.
“Jamaal Lascelles the skipper will always speak up if he feels something is not right. He is a great leader of men.
“Matty Ritchie is always vocal and Dwight Gayle is vocal. Everyone says their own piece.
“Sometimes you can have too many voices in the dressing room and you get mixed messages but everybody is on the same page now.
“Everybody has the chance to have their say, that is the good thing.
“We take it on board. We have great coaching staff here and everybody is constantly in contact with each other.”
Shelvey’s influence has been pinpointed as a key factor for United going into the season’s runin.
Bruce turned to the former England schemer to replace the injured Lascelles last weekend and the 29-year-old responded with an assist and a motivational performance from the centre of the park to help set up a 2-1 win at Burnley.
Shelvey has only contributed two assists and one goal this season but has a habit of finding the net against the Hammers in a Newcastle shirt.
He has two goals in the last two seasons in fixtures against the Clarets and will be hungry for more.
Bruce said: “Jonjo is a very good footballer and when he plays well the team play well – it is quite simple.
“We hope he has a big influence over the next five or six games with his experience and what he has.
“He is a very important player to us, of course, he is.”
Shelvey was put up to face the media as captain this week and spoke confidently about his side’s chances.
He added: “The squad we have on paper, I don’t think West
Ham’s is better than ours to be honest.
“I think we have a great squad, we just have not performed to the level we can.
“It is only recently we have picked up a few better results.
“That has given us the belief to finish this season strongly, then come back next season and kick on.”
Sometimes you can have too many voices in the dressing room but everybody is on the same page now