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It was all a case of ‘We-told-you-so’ as far as Jonjo Shelvey was concerned after Newcastle United’s 3-0 loss at Everton.

Many Swansea City fans took to Twitter to tell the world that Shelvey was heading for the Championship with Newcastle.

And Swans director John van Zweden also waded in by retweeting some of the negative comments about the England midfielder – who was told he could leave the Liberty Stadium last month.

All of it seemed a far cry from Shelvey’s debut just a fortnight ago when pundits were queuing up to heap praise on his sparkling display against West Ham.

Shelvey has not hit the heights of his first game in United’s last two encounters at Watford and Everton. But he is starting to make his presence felt around the club’s Benton HQ.

It is believed he hasn’t been afraid to ask awkward questions behind-the-scenes about Newcastle’s style of play.

The Magpies lack width and aren’t creating enough chances from out wide. At Goodison Park, Shelvey showed he wasn’t afraid to tell some established players things were not good enough.

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He fired verbal volleys at Daryl Janmaat and Gini Wijnaldum during the awful performance at Everton in a failed bid to rattle their cages.

Nobody wants to see players arguing with each other but sometimes booming out some orders can be a good thing.

Unfortunately Newcastle’s captain Fabricio Coloccini is not the vocal type of skipper United fans have witnessed in the past. If players weren’t working hard enough or made a mistake, Alan Shearer or Kevin Nolan would be quick to tell them in front of a packed house at St James’ Park.

Shelvey seems intent on doing the same - with or without the captain’s armband.

Few players emerged with much credit at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, but at least Shelvey was prepared to put his foot in and show he cared about what was going on. More Toon players need to follow his lead.

The Londoner was Newcastle’s most influential player in terms of involvement with 66 touches on the night.

Having endured a poor performance the Toon Army still didn’t turn on their team or the head coach.

But as some players headed straight for the dressing room at the final whistle it was Shelvey who turned them around and made sure they went to applaud the Newcastle fans after the game.

United are going to need a few more like him if they are to survive – and most Newcastle supporters will take comments from Swansea fans with a pinch a salt.

United will need another a big performance from Shelvey like his debut this weekend. Fans started chanting his name just moments into his first game against West Ham, but will want to see more of the same from him against West Brom.

Another defeat is unthinkable with two tough away games to follow at Chelsea and Stoke City.

It makes the clash with the Baggies and a positive performance from big characters such as Shelvey absolutely vital.

Regardless of bitter remarks from the Swansea end, Shelvey will be a hero at St James’ if he can get this team by the scruff of the neck and pull them away from danger in the Premier League.