JONJO SELFIE
Toon midfield general: I’m fit, trim and ready to battle new boys like Bruno after a summer in Turkey with my physio
JONJO SHELVEY sacrificed his summer to “smash the gym” and lose body fat – so he could remain part of Newcastle’s rebuild.
The midfielder has vowed to remain a big part of Eddie Howe’s plans to prove himself worthy of playing in the same midfield as Brazil star Bruno Guimaraes (below).
Shelvey spent a month in Turkey with a personal trainer and his family after finishing the season with a calf injury.
With the Tyneside club on the up and ready to spend millions to become contenders, Shelvey knew that, despite having a good season last term, he had to up his levels again.
He admitted: “If I didn’t buy into it, I’d be out the door. I want to be part of it. I back myself against
anyone – we’ve got some great players.
“Since I’ve been here, it’s the strongest the
squad has been and I just want to be part of it. I want to play as many games as possible and I’m backing myself to do that.
“Don’t get me wrong, Bruno is a fantastic footballer, but there are going to be even more fantastic footballers joining the club – you have to raise your game constantly every day and strive to be better.”
Shelvey has a fantastic range of passing and has added a tenacious defensive element to his game under Toon boss Howe.
Looking ultra-trim on Newcastle’s pre-season trip to Austria, Shelvey explained what he had doing in the last few weeks.
“I’ve not really had a summer,” he said. “I was injured at the back end of the season and I went away and did my rehab in Turkey and took my trainer with me. I smashed the gym.
“I didn’t do too much running, just went into the gym building my legs and body up. And now I’m feeling the benefits from it.
“I was in Belek. I took the missus and kids and we stayed there for a month. We didn’t bother to come back and go somewhere else, we just stayed there for a month.
“It got a bit boring towards the end, but it was a good trip. I’ve lost 35mm of body fat, so I definitely feel better in myself and I’m getting the balance between eating more, so I’ve got the energy to play games, and that’s something I’m learning with Dan, the sports scientist and the nutritionist.”
Asked about his motivation, Shelvey was coy.
“I wouldn’t say it was because of players coming in – I back myself against any player. But, with the way the game is going, you’ve got to get on board or you fall by the wayside.
“A lot of the game is now based on stats, which may be right or wrong, but that’s how it is and you get on board with it.
“I know my ability – everyone knows what I can do with a football. It’s just me keeping fit and showing the gaffer every day in training.
“You know what the gaffer is like, his sessions are very intense. As soon as Eddie came in, the intensity went through the roof. Every drill is set up, they all lead into each other. It’s been a breath of fresh air.”
Howe’s football obsession is rubbing off on his players.
Before, Shelvey would go home and “switch off ” and play with his kids. “Now, I’m going home thinking about what I could have done better at training. That can only help you,” he said.
The new season holds much promise, but Shelvey believes in steady progress, not a big leap into the top six.
He explained: “Since we’ve been in the Premier League, we’ve finished around 12th, 13th. I think we need to have a season like West Ham did last year, fighting for Europe. Qualifying for the Europa League, I feel that is the next step for this club.
“We haven’t really set a target, but we know we have to stick together and use the team spirit from last season. You can see the spirit.
“There were so many singers after dinner the other day – people were actually volunteering!
“It’s just a great place to be at the moment. No, before you ask, I’m not a singer!”