Newcastle United captain Jonjo Shelvey has revealed that he "started to see a psychologist last year" as the controversial midfielder bids to contain his anger on the field.
Shelvey, 25, is expected to miss Newcastle's next three Premier League matches after picking up a straight red card for a stamp on Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli during Sunday's clash at St James' Park.
The England international has been widely criticised following his actions at the weekend, but Shelvey has said that he is aware of the self-destructive streak that has threatened to derail his career.
"Look, sometimes I just need to rein in it in on the football pitch. I need to just shut up and stuff. I need to not get involved and walk away," Shelvey told the Daily Mail.
"I started to see a psychologist last year to work on the mental side of things. It was after the Forest game. I was sent off. I had kicked out at this lad (Henri Lansbury) and it was just childish.
"When people wind me up I should just laugh. I do need to get that out of me. Sometimes you can't help it. I started to work with this fella and after that there wasn't really an incident when I did that.
"I started to learn to keep my head down and just get on with the game. But it's an ongoing process and I am still working with him. Sometimes I can lose my head and it can't keep happening."
Shelvey joined Newcastle from Swansea City in January 2016.
Matt Law
