STEVE BRUCE has backed Jonjo Shelvey to replace the injured Sean Longstaff when Newcastle United travel to Liverpool this lunch-time, and dismissed suggestions the Magpies midfielder is ‘too lazy’ to justify a starting spot against the league leaders.

Longstaff damaged his ankle in training this week, and while the injury is not expected to be too serious, he will not be involved in the squad at Anfield.

Bruce could turn to Ki Sung-yueng, having started with the South Korean at Norwich City last month, but is instead expected to hand Shelvey his first league start since the defeat at Carrow Road.

The midfielder was dropped for the games against Tottenham and Watford, with his lack of work-rate cited as a factor in his demotion to the substitutes’ bench, but Bruce insists he has no concerns over Shelvey’s defensive work or his ability to cover sufficient ground at the heart of midfield.

“The one thing we’ve got now is sports science, and you can see what every player is doing, whether they do enough or not,” said Bruce, who is hoping to guide Newcastle to what would be a first league win at Anfield since Andy Cole and Robert Lee scored in a 2-0 success in 1994. “Against Leicester (in the Carabao Cup), Jonjo was up there in the top half dozen of both teams for distance covered.

“He’s got this languid style which makes him that way. He always looks as if he’s a touch on the lazy side - if that’s the way you’re putting it - but I think it’s just the way he is. Make no mistake, he’s a very good footballer.”

Longstaff turned his ankle while attempting to block a cross in a routine training session, and the 21-year-old has joined Matt Ritchie, Allan Saint-Maximin, Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll on what has become a lengthy absentee list.

Ritchie and Saint-Maximin remain at least a fortnight away from a first-team return, while Gayle is set for two weeks of complete rest before his recurring calf issue is reassessed, but Carroll could find himself contending for a place in the squad to face Brighton next weekend if his specialist agrees to a marked step up in his training schedule.

Having taken part in a light training session yesterday morning, Carroll travelled to London to meet the specialist that has been overseeing his ankle reconstruction. Provided his consultant is happy with his progress so far, he will begin to take part in full-contact training next week.

“It’s good news, and he’s got a spring in his step,” said Bruce. “He’s joined in for the first time in the last couple of days and, touch wood, he’s had no reaction. He had a session (yesterday) morning, and you could see that he’s confident and the ankle is okay.

“Let’s hope it’s good news. He’s going to see the specialist, and we’re hoping he’ll be told, ‘Okay, off you go’.

“I remember deadline day here, I think he changed the mood at the club, and if we get 12, 15 starts from him, then I’ll be delighted. We all know he’s not going to play 35 times this season, but he could be an impact player. Let’s hope his ankle is okay because, if he’s okay, he’s going to be a big plus for us.”

The situation with Gayle is much less positive, with the striker having had to withdraw from training completely after complaining of persistent pain in his leg.

“We’ve decided to completely shut him down in the hope that complete rest will help,” said Bruce. “The frustration for me is that on the last day in China, we had a session and I watched him and thought, ‘Oh, wow’. Unfortunately, the reaction when he got home was not good.

“He couldn’t put his foot down again. It’s a concern for us because he’s been scanned, he’s seen specialists, but the way we’re having to take it at the minute is to shut him down totally and say, ‘Right, until he’s pain-free, let’s go right back to basics’.”