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Liam Kennedy has slammed the displays of Jonjo Shelvey for Newcastle United so far in the 2020/21 term.

Writing in his latest piece for The Shields Gazette, the journalist claimed that the former Liverpool and Swansea City player ‘needs to do more’ and added that he ‘chooses not to up those levels’ with reference to his overall work ethic on the pitch.

Kennedy went on to claim that Shelvey is ‘no world beater’ and ‘lacks a yard or five of pace and mobility’, adding that he is ‘not a worthy carrier of the armband’ and ‘not a player who leads by example’.

Shelvey underwhelming for Newcastle

There is no doubt that very much like the St. James’ Park faithful’s season so far, Shelvey has been pretty underwhelming.

The central midfield player ranks relatively low among his teammates in terms of tackles (1.2), interceptions (1.1) and clearances (1.3) per match in the Premier League so far (Whoscored), suggesting that he needs to improve on the defensive side of his game.

He has also managed a mere one goal and two assists in 26 appearances in total in the top flight so far, and considering that Joe Willock has scored four from midfield already having only joined in the January transfer window on loan from Arsenal (Whoscored), Shelvey certainly needs to be having a greater impact in at least one of attacking or defending – he is ineffective on both sides of the ball at the moment.

Nonetheless, the 29-year-old Englishman will be hoping for a much stronger finish to the campaign from a personal point of view, but fans will likely be hoping he isn’t afforded the chance and Willock comes in as a sure-fire starter.

In other news, find out what promising insight Mark Douglas has dropped from close sources to one Magpies target here!

Liverpool striker Divock Origi has been linked with a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce this summer, with his exit from Anfield looking almost certain.

The Lowdown: Origi on the move

The Belgian cult hero has found playing time almost impossible to come by this season, with Jurgen Klopp blessed with a plethora of attacking talent.

In fact, Origi has only appeared for 71 minutes in the Premier League during the whole of 2021/22, scoring a dramatic winner at Wolves in that time.

The 26-year-old, who has Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota all ahead of him in the pecking order, has been strongly linked with a move to AC Milan, but now another suitor has emerged.

The Latest: Fenerbahce meetings

According to Takvim [via Sport Witness], Fenerbahce have now entered the race to sign Origi this summer, with it stated that his contract at Liverpool ‘will not be renewed’.

There have been ‘several meetings’ between the Turkish side and Origi’s representatives, as the forward looks to seal a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad later this year.

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The Verdict: Milan would be better

It makes total sense for Origi to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, with Jurgen Klopp clearly not seeing him as an important part of his plans moving forward.

Milan would be the better option for the attacker, though, given their prestige and the level they play at, with Fenerbahce feeling like a bigger drop down in standard.

At 26, Origi could be heading into the best years of his career and he deserves to be starting regularly for a top club – something that Milan certainly are, currently leading Serie A with seven matches to play.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has provided a key Liverpool update. Read more here.

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has some tough decisions to make heading into the January transfer window.

The ex-Bournemouth manager is reportedly looking to strengthen his squad and has been linked with a swoop for Lille centre-back Sven Botman.

This suggests that he wants to bolster his defence and the arrival of Botman may result in him needing to axe a current first-team central defender.

Axe him

One player he must brutally axe from the starting XI by signing a replacement in January is Jamaal Lascelles. The £55k-per-week dud is a liability at Premier League level, making too many errors at the back.

This was summed up perfectly in the 4-0 defeat to Leicester last weekend. He conceded a penalty in the first half as his outstretched leg allowed James Maddison to fly into him and win a spot-kick.

Irrespective of the English midfielder’s overexaggerated fall to the ground, the Magpies skipper was rash in his movement and got nowhere near the ball when he stuck a boot out – leaving himself open to giving away a foul.

Lascelles ended the game with a SofaScore rating of 5.6 as he lost three of his five duels and failed to make a single tackle or interception, whilst making just one clearance and one block.

This was not a one-off performance for the skipper, with Toon legend Alan Shearer recently blasting him for his performance against Arsenal, in particular for Bukayo Saka’s opening goal, saying:

“He has got to realise that Saka is the problem, he has got to engage, he has got to come over a second earlier and do that rather than stand there and do nothing with his hands in the air. It’s terrible defending.”

Howe has confirmed that two of the club’s centre-backs will be out throughout the Christmas schedule, revealing:

“Paul Dummett is still out long term, although he’s making good progress. We’ve lost Federico Fernández through injury. We’re not sure of the extent, but he’ll miss this game and the majority over the festive period.”

This limits his options in the short term and he may have to persist with the pairing of Fabian Schar and Lascelles for now, but that could change when the January transfer window opens. If they are able to bring Botman in from Lille then it could allow Howe to tinker with his team and stop playing the ex-Nottingham Forest man at the back.

Therefore, next month could be crucial for the Magpies in their hopes of improving their defensive record as injuries dictate that bringing in new signings may be the only way for things to improve.

If Newcastle want to remain in the top-flight they cannot afford to have their defenders making regular errors and that is why the 43-year-old coach must brutally axe Lascelles by adding to his squad in the market.

AND in other news, “Newcastle are…”: Ornstein drops exciting transfer update that’ll leave fans buzzing…

Kevin Phillips has given his reaction to some Newcastle United injury news involving Callum Wilson.

The Lowdown: Back training

Speaking in his pre-game press conference before the Magpies lost 2-1 at Wolves on Saturday, Steve Bruce revealed that the 29-year-old is due to start training ‘in the next couple of days’, and hinted that he could make a return to the squad after the upcoming international break.

The former Bournemouth striker has not played since he scored in the 2-2 draw at home to Southampton in the Premier League in late August.

The Latest: Phillips reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League Golden Boot winner Phillips has claimed that Wilson being back in training is a big boost for Newcastle. He said:

“That’s a massive boost. They’ve missed him hugely. When he plays, he guarantees you goals, guarantees you a threat.

“That’s what Newcastle have lacked. It’s great news for him to be back in training.

“I’m sure they can’t wait for him to get out there and get going again.”

The Verdict: Huge

It certainly is huge that Wilson is back in training, as he could be back in a black-and-white-striped shirt after the international break has finished.

There is no doubt that Newcastle have missed him, having not being able to win any of the last four Premier League games without him, only managing to score four goals in that time (two in three matches prior to his injury.

He is such a key player for Bruce’s team and gives them a focal point up top from which the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron and Joe Willock can thrive.

In other news, find out what controversial beIN reveal has been dropped on the potential takeover

Scott Brown hasn’t had an easy ride of it this season. The Celtic midfielder has often been the scapegoat, the man targeted when things aren’t going according to plan.

Indeed, at times, he has deserved that criticism. His performance against Slavia Prague in the Europa League a number of months ago showed signs that his career may have been heading on a downward spiral.

He was poor in possession of the ball, struggled to keep up with the pace of the game and was lackadaisical when attempting to clear the ball for Slavia’s opening strike in Prague.

What typified Brown’s season was the red card he received against Livingston in January. The skipper had been on the pitch for just five minutes before he was handed his marching orders.

On that evidence, there didn’t look as though there’d be any way back for the skipper. However, he has shown signs, in recent matches, of getting back to his best.

In the 4-0 win over St Mirren, he was superb. Brown controlled the tempo of the game and scored a lovely header to open the scoring from a corner. On top of that, he played a delightful ball over the top to assist Albian Ajeti’s strike.

As club captain, his leadership skills have been tested to the max this season. More often than not, with the Bhoys floundering, it has not been up to scratch.

Though, after John Kennedy challenged him to stand up and be counted before the clash against Aberdeen, he repaid the interim manager with a classy display on Saturday.

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Speaking before the encounter, Kennedy said: “He’s a strong character and will do the right thing but everybody must take responsibility and share that burden.

“If they do, it lightens the load and everyone is moving in the same direction. Scott will still be influential for the next few months in terms of how he leads by example.”

Indeed, the 35-year-old proved what a real leader of men he is this weekend. Brown took influence from Kennedy’s words and was as assured as he has been all season. It was Odsonne Edouard who scored the goal, but without their captain, Aberdeen might have found things easier.

Brown ran proceedings and in the process of touching the ball 105 times, he dominated the midfield. Only Callum McGregor (106) took on possession on more occasions, but no player completed more than his 84 passes as he finished with a success rate of 90%.

The veteran screened the midfield with relative ease, winning four ground duels. That tally was only bettered by left-back Diego Laxalt.

On a day where Brown had been challenged to step up by his new manager, he heeded Kennedy’s words and rolled back the years with an influential and combative performance.

More of this would be good before the midfielder’s contract expires in the summer.

AND in other news, Drop him: Celtic flop who made just 5 passes all game majorly let Kennedy down…

Juventus scout Matteo Tognozzi is keen to talk to Celtic in regards to their search for a director of football, according to the Scottish Daily Mail (11/03, p92).

The Hoops are set for massive changes this summer both on and off the pitch, with the newly created DoF role needing to be filled, as well as finding Neil Lennon’s long-term successor in the Parkehead dugout.

Tognozzi in the race

Tognozzi, who appears to be interested in the Celtic Park position (via 67 Hail Hail), is not the only man linked.

Former Bournemouth and Huddersfield chief David Webb and Manchester City’s Loan and Pathways manager Fergal Harkin are two other names thought to be in the frame.

The Italian, who has also worked in Russia and Germany during his career, now wants to talk to Celtic officials ahead of a possible summer switch to Scotland.

Transfer Tavern take

Plenty of Celtic fans were keen for the club to bring in Tognozzi as director of football just days before Lennon’s Parkhead resignation, so they could be delighted at this latest update.

The Hoops don’t exactly have long until the summer window comes around, though, so we feel the director of football and new first-team boss will need to be in the door and settled relatively soon in order to get the best off-field rebuild results ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

In other news: A top-half Premier League boss has emerged as a candiate to replace Lennon, find out more here. 

Wolverhampton Wanderers have once again been linked with a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer.

According to a recent report by 90min (via Birmingham Live), Bruno Lage is in the market for adding a striker to his squad ahead of next season, although his side could be priced out of a move for the Englishman.

Toney has settled into the top-flight excellently after catapulting the Bees into the Premier League last term with 33 Championship goals, finding the back of the net 12 times in the current campaign for Thomas Frank’s side, who now look all but safe after their first season in the first division.

Having played in League One, the Championship and now the Premier League over the last three seasons, the 26-year-old’s rise up the English football ladder has been remarkable.

Netting 139 senior goals over the course of his career, Toney has been a kingpin for Frank’s men, despite only joining in September 2020.

The Danish manager has previously labelled the striker as “special” whilst also claiming that he has the “mindset of a lion.”

The former Newcastle youth player has quickly established himself as one of England’s most prolific forwards and is certainly destined for bigger things, with no disrespect to Brentford.

Although the Englishman would see sides that can offer European football as a preference, joining Wolves would certainly be a step up with the West Midlands club enjoying a successful first campaign under the management of Bruno Lage.

The Old Gold currently find themselves eighth in the Premier League, although they are three points behind seventh-placed West Ham with a game in hand.

Securing European football is still very realistic for Lage’s men which, if they are successful in doing so, will make them a much more attractive prospect for potential signings.

Despite their strong campaign, quality in the final third has frequently been lacking for Wolves who have scored just 33 goals in 32 matches – with only Brighton, Burnley, Watford and Norwich have scored fewer.

Therefore, adding a prolific striker will certainly be a priority for the Portuguese manager.

This season has seen the return of forward Raul Jimenez after a horrific skull fracture that could’ve easily forced the Mexican into early retirement.

However, while the 30-year-old is Wolves’ joint-top goalscorer this term, he has been well below the standard previously set prior to his injury, scoring just six goals.

Although there were extra matches with the West Midlands outfit reaching the quarter-final of the Europa League, the 2019/20 campaign saw Jimenez score a whopping 27 goals and assist a further 10 in 55 games.

Moreover, the season prior saw the Mexican find the back of the net on 17 occasions in 44 appearances.

Had Wolves’ defence not been as good as it has been this campaign, the Golden Boys would undoubtedly find themselves well out of contention for a European spot.

Therefore, adding a more consistent goalscorer over the summer is vital as Lage’s men cannot rely on solely shutting teams out regularly to progress. With a good record, plenty of potential and top-flight experience, Toney would be an excellent candidate.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Wolves dealt late injury setback ahead of Burnley, Lage will be gutted

Having scored against St Mirren, Glasgow Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos once again finds himself at the centre of attention, but that doesn’t that the board should forget about Kai Kennedy.

What’s the word?

The highly-regarded Rangers teenager has been tipped for the top by former SFA performance director Malky Mackay but his contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, which has cast doubt over his future at Ibrox.

According to The Daily Record, Light Blues boss Steven Gerrard has made it clear to Inverness Caledonian Thistle that they can keep Kennedy until the end of the season but only if he commits his future to the club.

Currently plying his trade on loan at Inverness Caley Thistle, John Robertson has claimed he would love to keep the highly-rated 18-year-old as part of his squad: “We have spoken to Rangers and they have given us the scenario they see going forward.

“His future with them, first and foremost, is the key thing that has to be discussed between Rangers and the player.

“Until that is sorted we have to wait and see, as he is a Rangers player.

“They have told us if he signs a new deal they are quite happy for him to remain here this season.

“Until he does that, it is up for grabs.

“That hasn’t been done at the moment, so we will just crack on for the next couple of games before contacting Rangers again to find out what the situation is.”

It’s also claimed Kennedy is close to reaching an agreement with his boyhood club that would extend his current deal having been embroiled in a dispute with Ibrox bosses over a purported lack of game time.

But Ross Wilson can’t afford to leave anything to chance, as Manchester City, Roma and Bayern Munich were reportedly keeping close tabs on his situation after contract talks reached an impasse in September.

Forget Morelos, Kennedy is the future

While Morelos has been linked with a move away from Rangers in recent months – reports have even suggested Lille tried to lure him away from Ibrox in the last transfer window – losing Kennedy would arguably be an even greater blow.

He has been courted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs after bursting onto the scene whilst playing for Rangers in the Alkass Cup victory in 2017.

The talented teen has long been earmarked as one to watch for the future – he’s already bagged two assists for Rangers reserves.

And now, Kennedy has played a key part in Caley Thistle’s campaign in the Championship as Robertson’s side bid to avoid relegation to the Scottish League One this season – scoring one goal in eight games so far, via Transfermarkt. He isn’t an unproven academy prospect any longer, he’s starting to show glimpses of his obvious talents.

It’s no wonder, then, that even Gerrard has been impressed by the uncapped Scotland U21 international, with the Ibrox boss describing him as an “outstanding” dynamo after a string of impressive performances.

This is precisely why Wilson can’t afford to lose Kennedy. He’s a local lad who possesses lots of untapped potential in a similar nod to his forbearers Barry Ferguson and Steven Naismith before him.

AND in other news, Steven Gerrard dealt huge blow as Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield ruled out of Old Firm clash…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Derby County manager Paul Jewell believes the whole Super League situation was nonsense and if Jurgen Klopp had left Liverpool his options would’ve been limited.

Liverpool were one of the six English clubs that signed up to be part of the newly proposed European Super League, however, those plans came tumbling down within 48 hours due to fan unrest and uproar.

All of the Premier League clubs eventually withdrew from the competition, with Chelsea and Manchester City leading the way.

Speaking on how nobody wanted the idea to go ahead and how Klopp’s potential suitors would’ve been limited if he did leave Liverpool, Jewell told FFC:

“The problems would’ve been if the Super League went ahead, Klopp could probably only go to PSG or Bayern Munich. So, yeah, it’s been a bit of a nonsensical situation.

“People were pulling out left, right and centre, like rats leaving a sinking ship and I’ve still not heard anyone say something good about the Super League.”

In 2019, Klopp made it clear he would not and could never support the idea of a European Super League, which made the decision for Liverpool to join the league even more bizarre.

Klopp has been linked with the German national team job since Joachim Low announced that he would be leaving the role after this summer’s European Championships.

Lee Johnson’s Sunderland have been dealt what is potentially a huge blow ahead of their upcoming League One play-off semi-final.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to the Sunderland manager himself, who – speaking following the Black Cats’ 1-1 draw with Northampton Town on Sunday – revealed that Ross Stewart was ruled out of the fixture due to a hamstring injury, something which casts doubt over the centre-forward’s availability ahead of the play-off semi-final against Lincoln City on 19th and 22nd May.

As cited by Chronicle Live, Johnson said: “Ross suffered a grade two hamstring tear – or tweak, or strain, depending on how you want to look at it. In saying that, he is presenting very well, he feels good, and that’s one of the reasons why potentially we can chuck in a friendly on Friday to give him another sharpener. Next week it will be time for the players to be honest about what they need.”

Big blow

While Sunderland’s first-choice striker, 25-goal Charlie Wyke, has undoubtedly been the club’s star of the League One season so far, the news of Stewart’s injury is still likely to infuriate Johnson.

Indeed, with Wyke having only just returned to action following his own thigh injury, the potential loss of Stewart for the play-off semi-final is a “big blow” for the club, as described by Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith.

Should the 24-year-old be ruled out against the Imps, a reoccurrence of Wyke’s knock would leave Johnson incredibly short of centre-forward options. Even if the Black Cats’ top scorer stays fit, the loss of Stewart significantly reduces the options that the manager can utilise up front.

As such, it would seem a very likely scenario that Johnson is desperate for the 24-year-old’s return ahead of the clash with Lincoln, with anything other than securing promotion via the play-offs likely to render the Black Cats’ season a failure.

In other news: Forget Wyke: Lee Johnson may have found Sunderland ace’s heir in gem who could be worth £10m – opinion