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Newcastle announce shock new captain
JONJO SHELVEY has been given the captain's armband at Newcastle despite only having joined the club in January.
Shelvey has clearly made a strong impression on coaching staff at Newcastle
Shelvey made the £12million switch from Swansea in the winter transfer window as Newcastle attempted to spend their way out of the relegation zone.
And the 23-year-old appears to have made an instant impact at St James' Park.
Not only was Shelvey crucial to Newcastle's 2-1 win over West Ham on his debut but now manager Steve McClaren has handed the England international the captaincy.
Aleksandar Mitrovic did not travel to Spain due to an injury that leaves his side short of strikers.
But Ayoze Perez has been named in the starting line-up for the friendly match suggesting that he has overcome his recent injury struggles.