Former Premier League manager believes Jonjo Shelvey can be a 'genius in the right team' admitting he 'feels for him' at Newcastle.
The England international midfielder came under fire at the weekend for his performance against Brighton and Newcastle looked a better team after he was replaced by Ki Sung-yueng.
It was only last summer that many pundits felt England manager Gareth Southgate had made a big mistake by not selecting Shelvey as part of his Three Lions squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Sixteen months on and Shelvey is no longer even a guaranteed starter at Newcastle. The 27-year-old has largely had to settle for a place on the bench during 2019 with Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff the preferred midfield pairing of both Rafa Benitez and Steve Bruce.
Shelvey almost joined West Ham in the summer and it is becoming more of a struggle to see where he best fits in this Newcastle side.
On his day, the former Liverpool midfielder can dictate games and can be one of the most creative forces in the Premier League.
That day is becoming all too rare at Newcastle but Holloway believes he will only return to his best in the 'right team'.
"I feel for him," Holloway said when asked about his thoughts on Shelvey's current form during a Twiitter Q&A.
"He’s a genius in the right team. He can dictate the play if he has runners around him.
"I love him and hope he gets back to his best soon."
