Shelvey flies high as winner helps the Toon take off
JONJO SHELVEY woke up smiling yesterday before heading to the airport with three points in his bag.
Shelvey was still on a high as Newcastle jetted out to Jeddah as guests of the club’s new Saudi owners, having scored at Leeds to earn Eddie Howe’s side their first away win of the season.
Howe and his squad are spending the winter break at a training camp in the 28C heat of the Red Sea resort and Shelvey says it should be a useful bonding trip.
He said: “Winning brings the atmosphere and the city together, even to waking up in the morning knowing you’re going to the airport with three points in the bag. It’s massive.
“It’s unfortunate we haven’t got a game straight away to back this win up with but we’ve got a week together as a squad now.
“We’re going to work hard but we’re going to enjoy ourselves as well, embrace the culture and get to know everyone.”
Howe, above, is relishing getting to know his players better, having been parachuted in just over two months ago.
He wants to build on the togetherness evident at Elland Road as Newcastle produced a team performance to pop Leeds’ balloon.
Howe quipped: “I’m certainly not going to get a sun tan, but I hope to get a really good positive vibe.
“This result will help. Hopefully, the trip will be really worthwhile in that we can get to know each other.We’ll train well and come back hopefully more united.”
The vibe is already positive.The entire Newcastle staff posed for a group picture as they celebrated their landmark win in the away dressing room.
Their fans were still singing 15 minutes after the final whistle.
Shelvey said: “I felt like we repaid them by giving them three points and a nice trip back up the A1.
“We were outstanding to a man but it can’t just be for one game.We’ve got to kick on.”
Newcastle dug in after being outplayed initially and limited Leeds to few chances after the interval. They defended resolutely to see out the game after Shelvey fired home his freekick on 75 minutes after conceding a late equaliser last time out against Watford.
Martin Dubravka was not overworked and the only real save he made was from Dan James early on.
Leeds ran out of ideas as the Toon recorded their first clean sheet on the road this season.They are now just a point from the safety line.
Shelvey said: “We worked all week on how to manage the game because we know we’re going to create chances.
“It’s about seeing games out.We worked all week on being smart and streetwise.”