Ray Parlour heaped praise on Newcastle United midfielder Ki Sung-yueng following the player’s display in the 2-1 win over Burnley on Monday.
The 45-year-old, who won the Premier League title three times in his playing career, shared that he really liked the 29-year-old and believed he gave Rafa Benitez a likeable problem.
Parlour highlighted the fact that Ki was capable of keeping Jonjo Shelvey out of the team and that the English playmaker may now have to bide his time when trying to get back in the team once fit again.
“You’ve got no Shelvey playing either but I thought the midfield were very good, I really like Ki,” said Parlour on talkSPORT’s Drive (November 27th, 16:12).
“He’s a real quality player on the ball, he’s never flustered.
“Absolutely (when Adrian Durham said it’ll be hard for Shelvey to get back in) I think Benitez is thinking now I like this problem as he’s got two midfielders who have done a great job, so he can’t really change the team again.
” So Shelvey probably has to bide his time to get in.”
OPINION
Ki has been superb ever since being given a regular run in the Magpies’ team and his performance against Burnley was just more of the same. The 29-year-old is a sublime passer of the ball and dictates the tempo of the game for his side. Benitez clearly has a likeable problem just as Parlour described as when Shelvey is fit, the playmaker is no longer a guaranteed starter. Shelvey may be one of the best passers in the Premier League but Bentiez can’t disrupt his winning formula and drop players who are delivering the goods. As long as Ki along with Mohamed Diame continue to excel, as the duo were fantastic against Burnley, then Shelvey won’t be able to start games regardless of whether he has a clean bill of health. Normally Benitez has a selection headache due to not having much depth in certain position, but it seems finally the manager is spoilt for choice at least in one area of his team.
