Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe states he had no option but to let Jonjo Shelvey leave in January.

The Magpies coach was asked about Shelvey, who moved to Nottingham Forest in the transfer window, given the midfielder was a fan favorite at the club.

While Howe had to do without midfielder Joelinton against Wolves, in a game Newcastle won 2-1, he admitted that he did not have any way of keeping Shevley as backup to the end of the season.

Pre-game, per Chronicle Live, Howe said: "Yeah we are light in midfield. But I don't think it was a risk and it wasn't a decision I wanted to take.

“It wasn't a pre-meditated decision for me to say, 'let's do this and take this risk'. It was 99% out of my hands that Jonjo was going to leave.

"We sort of feel a bit of a hole left with his presence gone. But it's happened and now we have to make the best of the situation."