Monk hails toiling Shelvey

NOT SO long ago Garry Monk branded Jonjo Shelvey ‘lazy’ and ‘ ill- disciplined’. Now the Swansea boss has nothing but praise for the former Liverpool midfielder.

Since that withering assessment i n December, the 23-year- old has duly improved his work-rate.

Twice he toiled to retrieve loose balls here before setting up simple finishes for Jefferson Montero and Ki Sung-yeung to sink Stoke, who had Marc Wilson sent off shortly after the opener.

The result takes the Swans closer to a topeight finish, while Shelvey (right) c oul d well earn an EnglandEngla recall next month.

‘He has taken the criticism on board and he has worked really hard at his fitness,’ said Monk. ‘If he keeps progressing, we will have a serious player on our hands.’ Stoke are unlikely to better last year’s ninthplaced finish and Ryan Shawcross is hoping for summer investment.

He said: ‘I am sure the gaffer will have s o me money to spend and we will i mprove t he

squad.’ SUPER STAT: Marc Wilson i s the first Stoke player to be sent off in the Premier League this season. SWANSEA CITY (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 7; Rangel 6, Fernandez 8, Williams 7, Taylor 7; Shelvey 9, Cork 8; Dyer 6 (Ki 79min), Sigurdsson 7, Montero 7 (Barrow 89); Oliveira 5 (Emnes 42, 5). Subs not used: Britton, Grimes, Tremmel, Hanley. Booked: Rangel. Scorers: Montero 76, Ki 90. STOKE CITY (4-2-3-1): Butland 6; Bardsley 6, Shawcross 7, Wilson 5, Pieters 6; Whelan 6, Nzonzi 7; Walters 7 (Odemwingie 79), Adam 6 (Ireland 70, 6), Arnautovic 6; Diouf 7 (Crouch 79). Subs not used: Muniesa, Sidwell, Wollscheid, Sorensen. Booked: Wilson, Arnautovic, Shawcross. Sent off: Wilson. Man of the match: Jonjo Shelvey. Referee: Craig Pawson 6.