Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez believes Jonjo Shelvey should warrant a place in the England national team after making progress with the Magpies over the past few seasons. The former Liverpool graduate had been under consideration for a potential call-up for the summer World Cup but unfortunately, he was not anywhere near the list of potentials for the tournament.

Speaking in a news conference, Benitez highlighted that Shelvey could be an option for Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, who had bemoaned the lack of creativity during the recent internationals against Spain and Switzerland. He added that Shelvey may not be the perfect at the moment but he has the vision for different range of passing which may assist the national team.

He said: “He has to improve things and he will become an even better player. But he has the potential to play there. Obviously, the manager (Southgate) knows what he has to do but when you have a squad with midfielders, one like Jonjo is a different option. he has quality, he has the vision, he can make these passes that strikers like behind the defenders. In a team, squad, you have to have different kind of players, I don’t see many of this kind of player.”

“Shelvey recovered from a thigh injury to make the matchday squad against Arsenal on Saturday but he was “ left on the bench for the entirety of the 2-1 defeat. Nonetheless, he should fancy his prospects of returning to “the starting lineup for “ the next league game versus Crystal Palace where the Magpies can expect another testing challenge.

Newcastle have witnessed a dreaded schedule where they have already faced Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in four of their opening five matches and their upcoming schedule remains unfavourable with Manchester United to face before the next international break.