Newcastle news: Jonjo Shelvey has England quality - Carragher

Shelvey played a superb through-ball to split his former team’s defence for Newcastle’s equalising goal in the 1-1 draw yesterday.

It was Shelvey’s first start since being sent off for Rafa Benitez’s side on the opening day of the season against Tottenham.

And Souness believes the 25-year-old now has a strong chance to add to his six England caps.

"I'm going to say something daft but if he got his act together there would be a shout for him to get back into the England squad," Souness said.

"There are lots of midfielders who are about possession but he wants to hurt you all the time [with a pass]. 

“A modern midfield player gets away with murder these days because they are allowed to go sideways and the stats say they have kept the ball all day. 

“He has an edge to him, which I love in a player.

"Sometimes he has more than an edge and he has to get that out of his game. 

“At 25 he must have learned his lesson. 

"There's so much to like about him and he's got so much to offer - he will stand up to someone, he has a pass, he has technique - but he has the exploding head he must control."

Carragher played with Shelvey at Liverpool when Rafa Benitez snapped up the youngster from Charlton for just £1.8million.

Although his time at Anfield was an inconsistent period, Carragher was impressed with his attitude.

"He has got a mentality about him where he's not scared," he said.

"Sometimes Newcastle is too big for someone and at Liverpool you can say the same. 

“But when he played for Liverpool he wasn't scared to try things. 

“He doesn't get daunted by the size of the club.