Shepherd - "We always knew about Jenas"


By Matthew Jones
February 13 2003

Newcastle United always knew that youngster, Jermaine Jenas was England material. Jenas shone in last nights England friendly against Australia. A game that Jenas made his debuet, and had a cracking one! Providing England's only goal of the night. Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd today revealed how The Magpies have anlways known that Jenas was hot property. They always knew they were signing a future England international when they snapped up Jermaine Jenas from Nottingham Forest last season.

Newcastle insisted that no fee be included in the £5 million deal if Jenas was to be capped by England - which is common practice in transfer deals.

Shepherd told The Journal,

"Not only did our chief scout Charlie Woods spend a lot of time watching JJ, but Sir Bobby went down to Nottingham on several occasions as well.

And we knew that in JJ we had an international in the making and we made sure there is no clause in the contract for international appearances.

But this does not mean we are not proud to see two of our players JJ and Kieron Dyer playing for England tonight."

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