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Micky Quinn thinks a ‘massive problem’ awaits Newcastle boss Steve Bruce

Former Newcastle United striker Micky Quinn believes Steve Bruce will soon have a big decision to make.

Jonjo Shelvey returned to the starting XI at the weekend against West Ham United and produced an excellent display for the Magpies.

(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Shelvey ran the show in midfield, and helped himself to Newcastle’s third of the afternoon from a free-kick.

Shelvey was paired alongside Isaac Hayden in the engine room, with the 24-year-old back after being red-carded against Leicester City last month.

They looked good together, and Quinn reckons that now presents something of an issue for Bruce.

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

, he said: “Shelvey and Isaac Hayden have been sat on their backsides watching the Longstaff brothers shine.

“It’s nice and refreshing to see fresh faces and local lads in that team. Shelvey and Hayden have been out and will have been thinking ‘I want to get back in that team’.

“It’s a massive problem for Brucey when Sean’s back from suspension, and the competition for places is great.”

TBR’s view – A headache indeed

The performances of Shelvey and Hayden will certainly give Bruce a headache going forwards.

(Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

The Longstaff brothers have done little to warrant being dropped, but it will be hard for the manager to ignore the creative talents of Shelvey and the tenacity of Hayden, who has a whole year of good form behind him.

Sean Longstaff – back available again for the Manchester City game on November 30 – and Hayden was a combination that worked very well under Rafa Benitez last term, but neither have the vision of £70,000-a-week star Shelvey (), making Bruce’s decision a tough one.