World Cup

Alan Shearer: 'Jonjo Shelvey should have made England World Cup squad'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 16 May 2018

England and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer believes that Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey should have made Gareth Southgate's 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup.

England legend Alan Shearer has claimed that Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was worthy of a place in the England squad for this summer's World Cup.

The 26-year-old has impressed this season for the Magpies, who sealed a top-half finish in the Premier League despite having only been promoted last year.

Numerous pundits and fans had been calling for Shelvey's inclusion in the Three Lions contingent, but Gareth Southgate's 23-man squad, named on Wednesday, did not feature the playmaker.

When asked by BBC Sport which omitted player should have been in the squad, former Newcastle striker Shearer replied: "The only one I would have included myself is Jonjo Shelvey just to add something a bit different.

"He would bring a calmness on the ball and he is someone whose first thought is a forward pass.

"He can keep hold of the ball if we need it, or pick his head up and play a long pass that we have seen him do over the last four or five months."

Shelvey has won six caps for the Three Lions but has not featured for his nation since 2015.