There was an “awkward” encounter over breakfast when Jonjo Shelvey met Jack Colback as a new teammate first time around.
There would have been no such difficulties to navigate now they are reunited at Nottingham Forest, though. The two midfielders forged a strong bond during their time together at Newcastle United.
Colback left the Magpies to sign for the Reds permanently in 2020, following two loan spells. Shelvey has now made the same move, leaving St James’ Park after seven years to join Forest on deadline day last week.
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“When I first went to Newcastle, we’d always had a little bit of, not trouble on the pitch, but a little bit of aggro,” Shelvey recalls. “I went into Newcastle and we sat down having breakfast. I was with my dad and Jack was having breakfast. My dad said, ‘you two are normally kicking lumps out of each other’. I just said, ‘oh, just make it a bit more awkward then, dad!’. We both started laughing and formed a really close relationship on and off the pitch.
“If I’m being honest, I never thought I’d get the chance to play with him again. He probably didn’t think so, either. It’s good that I’ve come to the club and know someone, with that close bond.”
The 30-year-old followed Newcastle loanee Chris Wood in linking up with Steve Cooper’s side during the January window. Having struggled for game time in the north east, due to a combination of injuries and falling down the pecking order, he was keen for a fresh start.
He has been recovering from a calf strain and was not in the Forest squad for last weekend’s victory over Leeds United. But whenever he does get the opportunity to run out at the City Ground for the first time, he hopes it will go better than his last visit Trentside.
“I don’t have fond memories of that game… I got sent off early doors,” he says, remembering a 2-1 defeat in December 2016. But he quickly adds: “It got rescinded.”
Coincidentally, a Jamaal Lascelles own goal proved to be the winner for the Reds that day. The former Forest defender has offered his ex-teammate advice about the area and where to live, following his switch.
And Shelvey is keen to get stuck in. Newcastle might have great riches now, on the back of being taken over in 2021, but the new signing can still see some similarities between the two clubs - and between their two managers.
“That club is on the up massively, but then so is this club as well,” he says. “I’d heard great things about the manager here and I’d watched a few of their games, because Jack and then Chris Wood had come and I tend to try to watch as much football as I possibly can.
“I had a few problems this year, in terms of injuries and stuff. I felt like a fresh start was needed. I’ve not really looked back.
“Don’t get me wrong, I had seven fantastic years at Newcastle. A lot of ups and downs, but I really enjoyed it. But I’m just looking forward to getting started here now.
“Both clubs have got massive, massive history. Two great football clubs and two great cities.
“I’ve not experienced playing for this club yet - hopefully that will be very soon. I can honestly say that I wore that shirt with pride, and I will wear this shirt with pride and give it my all.
Shelvey knows Cooper from when they were both at Liverpool, with the midfielder turning out for the manager’s youth side when recovering from injury. He knows assistant head coach Alan Tate from playing with him at Swansea City, and he was at Charlton Athletic with coach Andy Reid.
“The manager has been brilliant. He’s very detailed. I’m really enjoying working with him,” Shelvey says.
“Eddie Howe had a lot of great, positive things to say about him when I spoke to him. I’ve done about four or five sessions with the team now and I’ve really enjoyed the training.
“There are a lot of meetings and stuff like that, which I’m kind of used to anyway. He’s constantly pulling you in and stuff like that, so he’s a really hands-on manager. That works well for me.
“I see a lot of Eddie in Steve Cooper. They’re both young, exciting, up-and-coming managers. They’ve both done so well, so far, in their careers. I’m just looking forward to starting here.
“You have got to fit into the manager’s style of play and his plans. Once I’d spoken to him, I just knew he was for me, with the way he works.
“I’d spoken to Jack and Woody as well, and they had nothing but positive things to say about the manager and the club in general.
“Also, I knew he was at Swansea and the way they played football. It was a win-win.”
Shelvey got the opportunity to say goodbye to Newcastle fans before his move to Forest was announced, being presented on the pitch at half-time of their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Southampton. He intends to watch his old club take on Manchester United in the final of the competition at Wembley, and will be entitled to a medal should they win.
He says he has “no regrets” about leaving, although admits it was “hard”. But he is eager to now use his wealth of experience to help the Reds retain Premier League status.
“I’ve been in this league a long time. I’ve been around for years, and I’m still only 30 - I don’t look it, I look about 40,” he jokes.
“I’ll bring experience. There’s quite a few young lads in there, so I’ll try to help them as much as possible. I’ll always be there if anyone needs any advice.
“I’m not a massive communicator on the pitch, I try to lead by example. But I’ll be there if anyone needs me.
“I’m confident. I’ve seen enough of Nottingham Forest to know they should still be in this league next season. I can’t sit here and say it’s 100 percent guaranteed, because you never know in football, but the players they have brought in, and in the summer too, there’s enough in that dressing room to survive this year and build on that.”
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