Garry Monk backs Jonjo Shelvey to do well at Newcastle after Swansea exit

Former Swansea manager Garry Monk has backed Jonjo Shelvey to thrive at Newcastle after his £12million January move.

The club decided to sell Shelvey to their relegation rivals just a month after sacking Monk, who had worked with the midfielder as both player and manager.

And speaking on Goals on Sunday, he said Newcastle could see the best of him because he will enjoy playing in front of a packed St James' Park every week.

"Jonjo was a big part of what I did there and, of course, that consistency with him is what you're looking for," Monk said.

"You forget how young Jonjo is. He's got his peak years ahead of him and I think, once he learns that consistency in his game, you'll see what he can do.

He needs to be performing every single week and feel importance as a player. Newcastle will probably give him that.

"He's got that magic ability to be able to pick passes. He can be a match-winner. That's the key, but he needs to get that consistency in his game.

"I'm sure going to a club like Newcastle in front of that many fans and that type of club will suit him.

"A lot to do with Jonjo is motivation. He needs to be performing every single week and feel importance as a player. Newcastle will probably give him that.

"It will be interesting to see. I'm sure he will go there and do well."

Monk also spoke about his own departure from the Liberty Stadium in December following a run of one win in 11 Premier League matches.

He insisted he could have turned things around, but says he respected the decision of Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins.

"I really don't have any bad feelings towards Swansea," Monk added.

"As a manager your fate is dictated by results. Within that period of 11 games it wasn't like we were losing every game or were on a particularly bad losing streak, I think it was a case of us not getting the wins we needed to.

"In this league you need to be putting in wins. You can lose two games or three games, but then you need to come back with a win and show you are fighting back.

"We didn't quite do that. We probably should have won some of the games that we didn't in that period unfortunately.

"I was always confident we could turn that around. We'd got the squad and the players there and I think we were ready to turn that period around.

"But obviously when the club deem that they want to make a change you have to respect that.

"I have a lot of respect for Swansea. It's been a family to me for 12 years, so you have to respect that decision."