Former Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes playing for Newcastle was a hindrance in his quest to become an England regular.
Jenas moved to St James’ Park as a teenager from Nottingham Forest in a £5 million deal in January 2002 after catching the eye of Sir Bobby Robson, and made over 100 appearances in three years at the club before moving on to Tottenham ahead of the 2005/06 season after labelling life in Newcastle as living in a ‘goldfish bowl’.
He retired in 2016 after spells with Aston Villa and Forest on loan and finally QPR, with his last competitive game coming 18 months before the 35-year-old hung up his boots, winning just 21 caps England in that time.
Speaking on BT Sport’s Premier League tonight show, Jenas, now a pundit for various broadcasters, claims those three-and-a-half seasons at Newcastle prevented him from reaching his potential in a Three Lions shirt, citing his return from a friendly against South Africa in May 2003 and feeling that the level and intensity of training at United wasn’t to the same standard as it was with the National side.
"I didn't achieve what I set out to achieve."
"I don't blame anybody, I look at myself, I do live with regrets…"
An open and brutally honest @jjenas8 discusses his career.#PLTonight pic.twitter.com/Hvpv4kYRqO
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 3, 2018
This all comes despite Newcastle playing in the Champions League and UEFA Cup during Jenas’ time at the club, finishing third and fifth in consecutive seasons. 12 of his 21 appearances for England also came whilst he wore a black and white shirt. Not to mention being coached by one of the greatest football managers of all time.
It was a point picked up by Alan Shearer, who was Jenas’ captain at United, who tweeted his dismay at his former team-mates’ comments.
On behalf of me and my teammates at the time, we apologise @jjenas8 for not being up to your level when you returned from England games!!?🤣🤣 https://t.co/hS2f68Pj6t
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) March 4, 2018
