Jonjo Shelvey was on the EFL Weekly Podcast

Newcastle's Jonjo Shelvey talked Elvis, West Ham and Harry Potter as he took on '10 to Tackle' on the EFL Weekly Podcast.

The midfielder has been a key player for the Magpies this season as they have battled with Brighton for top spot in the Sky Bet Championship.

Shelvey discussed Newcastle's promotion hopes on the EFL Weekly Podcast as well as initiation songs and memorabilia...

What do your team-mates call you?

Shelvs. Quite a simple one.

Who is the biggest character in the squad?

There are a few. DeAndre [Yedlin] always has a smile on his face, he is always bubbly and making people laugh.

What was your initiation song when you joined Newcastle?

I have always sung Elvis, Suspicious Minds. I like Elvis and old school tunes. I gave it a bit of an Elvis twang but it wasn't the best!

Closest friend in football?

Probably Jack Colback. Since I have come to the club he has been superb with me. We used to have a lot of rows on the pitch but we are always doing things together off it now.

Jack Colback is Shelvey's closest friend in football

Toughest opponent so far this season?

There's not really any individual players, more the teams. The hardest is Huddersfield, the way they pass the ball. You just have to stay in the game and then hit them on the counter.

What's your squad number and is there any significance?

It's 12. I didn't want it to be 12 but it was one of the only numbers left when I joined. It's always difficult when you join halfway through a season because that's all that was left. I wasn't too bothered in the summer about trying to change, it's just a number.

Favourite item of memorabilia from your career?

I got a couple of shirts from when I was at Liverpool - [Luis] Suarez, [Fernando]Torres and [Steven] Gerrard. I'd probably say them.

Shelvey spent three years at Liverpool from 2010-13

Most embarrassing moment in your career so far?

Getting sent off for Liverpool against Manchester United [September 2012]. It felt like a mile walk from the pitch to the tunnel and you don't want to do anything in the evening, you just want to turn your phone off and try to forget about it.

Which team do you support?

I follow West Ham, which is where I am from. But obviously Newcastle has grown on me and I have a massive love for the club.

It's alright playing against West Ham. They are the ones who made the 'Harry Potter's coming for you' chants. That's the banter they have. It's nice to go back and play there.

Where will Newcastle finish this season?

We have set out from the start that we want to be finishing first. That's our aim and it looks like we are on course to do that. We have to keep winning, it doesn't matter how you win, whether you play like Barcelona, the main thing is putting three points on the board.

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