Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey feels he didn’t play as well in the Magpies’ last league match against Brighton as he had done previously against Reading and Huddersfield Town.

The 22 year old played in an advanced role against the Seagulls but his crucial contribution was a free kick that sealed a 2-0 victory against their Promotion rivals. The former Swansea player believes that modern football pundits and fans focus too heavily on goals rather than overall performances. He told the Evening Chronicle:

“In terms of the game against Brighton, I played further forward, but I didn’t think I managed to get involved too much. But if you score a goal, you get all the praise under the sun.

“I actually felt I performed better in the other two games (against Huddersfield Town and Reading), but I didn’t get the credit for those games because that’s what football is like nowadays.”

Shelvey has found himself in an out the team under manager Rafa Benitez with starts coming against Brighton, Huddersfield and Reading but also finding himself benched for the opening match of the league campaign against Fulham, and again against Bristol City. It is something he says he will have to get used playing in the Championship with their being seven matches in total during September with the next against Derby County tomorrow evening.