Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is "enjoying playing under Eddie Howe" according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

Shelvey has been at St James' Park for the last six years, and has arguably been playing the best football of his Magpies career in 2022.

How has Shelvey performed under Howe?

Since Howe arrived at Newcastle in November, Shelvey has started 15 of his side's 18 top-flight matches. The three games that he has missed have been due to injury and illness.

During this period, he has registered two goals and an assist, playing his part in Newcastle's revival which has lifted them away from the bottom three.

Howe appears to have a lot of faith in the 30-year-old, and handed him the captain's armband when the team faced West Ham in February. Shelvey went on to skipper the North-East club for a further three matches after that.

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What has Downie said about Shelvey?

Downie feels Shelvey is thriving at Newcastle as he is enjoying working with Howe. He has also highlighted that Howe singled out the £9.9m-rated midfielder for praise in his first week on Tyneside.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about Shelvey, Downie said: “Without doubt, he’s enjoying playing under Eddie Howe. Eddie Howe picked him out in his opening news conference, and said that he’s impressed him greatly in training, more than anyone else.”

Will Shelvey be in the starting XI against Tottenham on Sunday?

Shelvey missed Newcastle's final two games before the international break due to illness.

He had previously been keeping January signing Bruno Guimaraes out of the team, but the Brazil international was able to get some game time in his absence, and has shown glimpses of his talent in his opening couple of months as a Newcastle player.

With Howe also having Joe Willock and Joelinton to call on in midfield, there is no guarantee that Shelvey will definitely start when the team travel to Tottenham on Sunday.

However, Newcastle slipped to back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Chelsea and Everton when Shelvey was sidelined, indicating that he was a big miss.

Therefore, it appears likely that Howe will reinstate him into his starting line-up, provided Shelvey is fit and healthy, as his team look to get back to winning ways in north London.