Jonjo Shelvey has admitted he is seeing a psychologist in a bid to curb theanger which is threatening to blight his career.

The 25-year-old Newcastle midfielder, who served a five-match ban last season for allegedly racially abusing Wolves counterpart Romain Saiss, was sent off on his return to the Premier League on Sunday after stamping on Tottenham's Dele Alli.

Shelvey, who was also dismissed at Nottingham Forest last season for kicking out at Henri Lansbury only to have the red card rescinded later, apologised to his team-mates after the game as television pundits and fans queued up to condemn his behaviour.

Speaking in an interview conducted on Friday, but not published until todayhe told the Daily Mail:

Look, sometimes I just need to rein it in on the football pitch. I need to just shut up and stuff. I need to not get involved and walk away. Jonjo Shelvey

However, Shelvey did just that four minutes into the second half of Sunday'sgame and referee Andre Marriner sent him off, in the process ending any chance of a positive result for the promoted side.

Goals from Alli and Ben Davies eventually secured victory for Spurs to leavemanager Rafael Benitez bemoaning his captain's indiscipline.

Keeper Rob Elliot revealed Shelvey, who now faces a three-match ban, cut a disconsolate figure in the dressing room afterwards, but admitted he needed to channel his passion if he is to make the most of his career.