Bruce’s first demand was to ask squad to work hard – Shelvey
Jonjo Shelvey has revealed the one demand Steve Bruce made of him after taking the Newcastle United job.
Bruce took over as head coach last summer following the departure of Rafa Benitez.
The 59-year-old linked up withthesquadinChina,where they were taking part in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
And Shelvey – who signed a new deal at the club in March – says the players “bought into” what he wanted to do at Newcastle. "I've got a lot to thank Steve for – he’s been superb for me," said Shelvey.
“He'scomeinandjustasked for one thing, and that's hard work.Onthefirstdaywithhim on tour in China, he was just spot on. He said 'as long as you workhard,that’llbeenoughfor me'. I think everyone’s bought into that."
Newcastle were 13th in the Premier League when football wassuspendedduetothecoronavirus pandemic.
"We'vechangedformations alotandtrieddifferentthings," Shelvey told Sky Sports.
"Your role’s constantly changing within that. But I just feel that as you get older, you learn the game, the positional sense and that side of it.
“Also, one thing Steve’s big on is fitness. We do a lot of running during the week. The fitter you are, the more you can get from box to box.
"That's obviously helped, and it also helps that Steve has beenthereanddoneitasaplayer.Youjusttrytopickthingsup from him."
Shelvey was troubled by a nigglingcalfseasonlastseason.
"It was a tough season, last season," said the 28-year-old.
"I had a very bad injury that kept reoccurring. We couldn't get to the bottom of the problem, but eventually we found out what it was, and managed to keep it under control.
"Obviously, I didn't know what was going on at the club atthestartofthesummer.ButI wentawayandgotmyselfproper fit.
“Even if it had been Rafa comingback,Iwasjustgoingto trymybestinpre-season.Butit turned out to be Steve, and he's been superb for me."
Meanwhile,Newcastleplayersaresettobetestedforcoronavirus
– ahead of a return to training.
Theclub’splayershavebeen staying at home since March, when the Premier League was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, clubs are preparingforareturntotrainingnext weekaheadofaproposedJune 12restartdate.AndNewcastle’s players have been informed of planned tests on Friday.