EDDIE HOWE has admitted Newcastle United could struggle to replace Jonjo Shelvey before the end of the transfer window – but the Magpies head coach will not be standing in the midfielder’s way after he expressed a desire to join Nottingham Forest.

Shelvey held talks with Forest officials over the weekend, and is set to have a medical in the next 24 hours ahead of a proposed move to the City Ground, where he is expected to sign a two-and-a-half year deal.

The midfielder only has six months left on his current deal, and is keen to join Forest, with Howe admitting the last week’s developments have the potential to leave a gap in Newcastle’s midfield ranks.

The club are attempting to plug the hole, and have made a formal inquiry about a possible loan move for Sheffield United’s Sander Berge, but Howe admits it could be difficult to secure even a short-term replacement for Shelvey with the transfer window due to close tomorrow night.

Howe said: “Jonjo, I believe, is talking to Nottingham Forest. I don’t know what stage that is at currently.

“Jonjo’s been a huge player for this football club over the last seven years. He’s been a very important part of my squad since I’ve been here. Of course, he’s had injuries this season, but certainly, I would not want to lose him. But I have to understand the player’s wishes, similar to Chris Wood’s situation.

“I think it would be very difficult to keep Jonjo, currently, in terms of where he wants his career to go. You can keep players that want to leave – I’m not saying that every player who wants to leave, you have to let go – but you have to take each situation independently and try to judge everything.

“We have to judge what is best for him and the club, and this is a very difficult situation for our perspective. I definitely want to keep Jonjo, I rate him very highly, but there’s his situation to think about too.

“From a football perspective, I wouldn’t want to lose him, and we’ll see what we can do in the market to bring a player in.

“There’s no guarantee on that. We’ll try, and we’ll see what we can do, but I think in terms of a permanent signing, that will be very difficult. There’s the potential for a loan situation, but it’s got to be the right player. We won’t just be signing a player for the sake of it.”