Jonjo Shelvey is facing up to two months on the sidelines in another blow to Newcastle United, Eddie Howe has confirmed (via Keith Downie).
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The midfielder has been limited to only five appearances this season after suffering a hamstring injury during the summer.
While the 30-year-old had returned in October against Tottenham, Shelvey has now suffered a setback even despite the World Cup break, this time with a calf problem.
Previously a big part of Howe’s system, the Newcastle manager only recently stated how happy he was to have the midfielder back.
Still, Craig Hope of The Daily Mail has revealed the one-year extension to his contract is yet to be extended. As it stands, the six-cap England international will be a free agent in the summer. Just how much his injury-ravaged campaign will impact his chances of earning a new deal remains to be seen.
Can Newcastle cope without Shelvey?
Well, they certainly have so far.
Currently, Newcastle have four options for what is usually a three-man midfield in the form of Joelinton (who admittedly has had to be deployed on the left-wing at times), Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff. Luckily, all of that quartet have been in excellent form this season, although any other injury problems would leave Howe light.
The signing of a new defensive midfielder is believed to be on the cards, with The Athletic previously tipping Ajax’s Edson Alvarez as a target.
