Jonjo Shelvey hopes to earn an England recall

Jonjo Shelvey insists England are desperate for a central midfielder but admits his reputation has cost him call-ups.

The Newcastle midfielder was given a five-match ban and fined £100,000 by the FA for using abusive and/or insulting words towards Wolves' Romain Saiss last season, though he protested his innocence.

Shelvey, 25, earned the last of his six England caps in 2015, but after Newcastle secured a return to the Premier League for the new campaign, the former Liverpool player is hoping his performances can earn him a recall.

"If you look at the competition, we're crying out for a central midfielder for our country, in my opinion," Shelvey told the Daily Mail.

"But it's just a matter of saying the right things in the press and things like that, that's what it goes on these days. It's so fickle, if you like.

"All I can do is just show in my performances that I warrant a place in the England team."

Rafa Benitez's Newcastle secured promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez stood by Shelvey despite the player's suspension, restoring him to the first team where Shelvey helped steer the club to the Sky Bet Championship title.

Shelvey, who arrived at St James' Park for £12m from Swansea two years ago, admits he still has a debt to pay.

"It could have gone either way with the club," said Shelvey. "They could have thrown me by the wayside but they stuck by me, they believed in me and I feel like I repaid them with my performances."