Former Nottingham Forest manager Paul Hart feels Jonjo Shelvey should retain his place in the Reds' midfield, but changes need to be made around him.
Shelvey has come in for criticism for his performances since moving from Newcastle United in January with Forest failing to win any of the five games he has started.
Questions have been raised against the 31-year-old's defensive qualities with Shelvey conceding a penalty against Everton and being involved in two Tottenham goals. Shelvey was paired with Ryan Yates in a midfield two in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle and Hart feels he is better suited by playing with a defensive midfielder behind him and Ryan Yates.
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"I think you can have him but probably in a three. He's a very good player. One or two of his passes on Friday others wouldn't have seen. He's got that bit extra," he said on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast.
"You probably want him with a four and two eights. It may look better than but you can't argue with trying to score goals at home.
"You've got to let him function when the team is in possession. If you get a number four and Ryan Yates with him, I think that's a good balance. Yates, in every league I've seen him, from League Two to the Championship, he does similar to Jordan Henderson at Liverpool.
"He gives everything and keeps the game simple. That's key to being a good midifled player."
Fellow guest, Reds fan Michael Temple, feels Shelvey is worth his place in the team but he must play with more intensity without the ball to match his skill on it.
He said: "I think he is the right player for two reasons. He has a physical presence. He should add physicality but he's lacked intensity. We've seen a couple of examples where he's been a little bit passive defending in his own box and it's cost us goals.
"I like his range of passing. He can execute things others in our team struggle with. He's been found wanting defensively though. In games where we are going to have one goal more often than not it's so important our midfielders protect the back four.
"I like the experience he has, the passing and to a point the leadership. I'm so frustrated by his lack of intensity without the ball. It's a choice. It's within his grasp to fix.
"It's a thing Yatesy has in abundance. He's a minder for Shelvey but if he's going to keep his place he's got to overcome this slight clumsiness and lack of intensity."
Should Shelvey be in the starting XI? Have your say in the comments section below
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