Monk warning for Shelvey

Former Liverpool midfielder Shelvey returns to Anfield on Monday night as part of a Swans squad riding high in eighth place in the Barclays Premier League, but whether the 22-year-old features against his old club after Monk's comments remains open to debate.

Shelvey was substituted after an hour of the Boxing Day victory over Aston Villa following his seventh yellow card of the season and Monk believes the Londoner's disciplinary problems are being caused by his lack of application.

"I have spoken to him clearly about it," Monk said ahead of Swansea's trip to Anfield.

"We can't afford silly bookings and it cost him being on the pitch against Villa because any slight mistimed tackle could have been a red card.

"Jonjo has to wise up because that yellow card came from laziness and he has to be better than that.

"I have spoken to him a number of times and there is only so many times you can say it.

"He has to learn very quickly and make sure he does the work instead of being lazy, and he won't pick up the yellow cards and risk a red or coming off the pitch.

"If he had not done that he would have stayed on for 90 minutes, it is as simple as that."

Shelvey left Liverpool in a £5million move in the summer of 2013 and has been a first-team regular during his time at Swansea.

He has made 60 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals, and in October was called into the England squad exactly two years after winning his solitary international cap against San Marino.

Although he did not feature against San Marino or Estonia in those Euro 2016 qualifiers it seemed as if Shelvey was ready to kick on in his career, but he picked up five Premier League bookings by the end of October and was then sent off at Everton after receiving two more yellow cards.

Monk recently told Shelvey to take a leaf out of team-mate Gylfi Sigurdsson's book if he was make a real impact at Swansea and now he has gone public with his concerns over the player's work ethic.

"It is about doing your job properly and responsibly, understanding the role you are playing, not just for yourself but for the team," Monk said of Shelvey.

"He has to learn this otherwise he won't play games, it is as simple as that.

"We can't afford silly mistakes because we have already been punished for those this season and I can't allow that any more.

"Jonjo's ability is frightening and I have said I am more than willing to give him the chance to show that ability.

"I will push him every single day, but you also need to want it yourself. I think he does want it, but he also needs to understand the time for being lazy with it is gone.

"The team are trying to push higher now, and the demands I put on them is the same for him."

Shelvey was replaced by Tom Carroll against Villa and the on-loan Spurs youngster is now pushing for a start at Liverpool.

And Monk said he would not let sentiment stand in the way of selection as he prepares to go head-to-head with his former Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers.

"Of course it still means something to Jonjo playing Liverpool but I don't pick players on sentiment," Monk said.

"We have games coming up and he will be involved in those games but I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be anything silly going on.

"I can't afford what has been going on this season with Jonjo because as soon as you get a yellow card you run the risk of a red.

"The other bit is even if he doesn't make a silly challenge you are taking away half the player because he can't make a challenge and I don't want to be in a position worrying about that."