Boss has praise for ex-Swan Shelvey

CARLOS Carvalhal has revealed his admiration for one Newcastle United player, and it’s a name that will be very familiar to Swansea City fans.

Jonjo Shelvey had a two-and-ahalf year spell in South Wales before making a £12million move to Newcastle in January of 2016.

The 25-year-old scored 10 goals in 96 appearances in all competitions for the Swans, netting several memorable strikes but was also involved in his share of controversy.

In fact, his final Swansea appearance ended on a sour note after he angrily gestured towards supporters in the wake of the shock FA Cup defeat at Oxford United.

Chairman Huw Jenkins recently claimed the decision to sell Shelvey had to be taken with the club’s financial security in mind, while the player has accused his former club of having lost their identity since his departure.

Shelvey has been in and out of the Magpies side this season under Rafael Benitez, but started their most recent Premier League fixture at Stoke.

And Carvalhal, while outlining Newcastle carry plenty of other threats, was effusive in his praise for the England international.

“They have a good team, they are very good in offensive transitions so when they get the ball they are very fast so that makes them probably more dangerous when they play away because of that speed,” said Carvalhal.

“But they have quality in their game. They have good players like Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame in the middle, especially Shelvey who is a very talented player.

“They have attacking players who are very good in one-onone situations, there are fullbacks with pace and good centre-backs. They are a good team.

“But even good teams have weaknesses and we will go toeto-toe with them, I am sure.”

Of Shelvey, he added: “He is a player with an important dynamic in the way that he plays.

“He’s a very good passer, he controls the tempo and he is a player with a good impact in that team. A player with a very good influence on the attacking dynamic of Newcastle.

“But not just him – they have a lot of good players.”