Shelvey Set For Chelsea Opener

Jonjo Shelvey has a big season ahead of him in my view and he is certainly is taking his preparation for it seriously on the back of signing a new contract last week.

The Swans midfielder will no doubt have one eye on the England squad for France next summer when the season kicks off in less than four weeks time. He was called into the squad last season and with Roy Hodgson's team looking certainties to secure their place in France then Shelvey must believe that he has a chance of competing in the finals in France.

And to do that he knows that he must be in the best shape possible and his pre-season preparation has been very intense but very sensible as well as he gets himself ready for the new season.

Shelvey is currently in Germany with the Swans squad on their training camp and ready to take on the two teams they have lined up for games this week - Champions League qualifiers Borussia Monchengladbach in Grassau on Wednesday before facing German second-tier team 1860 Munich at the Grunwalder Stadion on Saturday.

Shelvey looked potentially to be on his way out of the Liberty at the end of last year thanks to some comments from the manager and a particularly poor display at his former club Liverpool but a great turnaround of form and some important performances in the second half of the season and he is a man reborn and a vital part of the Swans squad that will look to eclipse last season's record breaking run

"I’ve been working with a personal trainer all summer in order to get myself fit for the season,” said Shelvey.

"I’ve always carried a bit of extra weight compared to other players, but I’ve been working hard on that this summer.

"I’ve also got a chef coming to stay with my family to cook for us, so I’ve looked at covering all bases.

"I’m not going to have any regrets at the end of the season. I want to do everything I can to make myself a better player here.”

And that is exactly the attitude that will earn the player a place in his national squad and there should be no reason why he shouldn't line up in France next summer if things all go to plan

What to read next:

Leeds heading for the play-offs after shocker at QPR
Just when we thought we’d turned the corner with that win at Boro, we slipped back into the desperate form of the post-international break period, losing heavily to Queens Park Rangers in this critical game.

Queens Park Rangers 4 - 0 Leeds United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.

QPR Awaydaze
Our trip to Queens Park Rangers is at 8pm on Friday, thanks once again to our very good friends at Sky Sports. We’re not famous any more!

Crisis, what Crisis?
As Mark Twain might have said, rumours of the death of our promotion hopes have been greatly exaggerated. Last night’s win at Middlesbrough was a hard watch towards the end, but the vital three points has got our campaign back on track.

Middlesbrough 3 - 4 Leeds United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.

Middlesbrough Awaydaze
Our visit to Middlesbrough kicks off at 8pm tomorrow night, once again thanks to our very good friends at Sky TV. We’re not famous any more!

Leeds promotion hopes damaged by first home defeat of the season
Once again the chance to go back to the top of the table was handed to us on a plate, but we dropped the plate. This week’s frustration-fest was at the hands of Blackburn Rovers.

Leeds United 0 - 1 Blackburn Rovers - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.

Annual accounts show that the club will have to sell players if we don't go up
The club released the annual accounts for the 2022/3 season this week, and despite the headline figure of an overall loss of £33.7 million, we’re not in danger of any points deduction for now. But the accumulated losses mean that player sales will be inevitable in the summer if we remain in the Championship.

Stuart Dallas thanks the fans as tributes pour in
Stuart Dallas battled hard for two years to return to the game after his serious injury, but has now had to accept that he can no longer get back to the level of fitness needed to play the game at the top level. Club Chairman Paraag Marathe led the tributes, and the player has sent an emotional open letter to all the Leeds United fans.