Newcastle star Jonjo Shelvey seeing a psychologist to deal with anger issues after seeing red on opening day for stamp on Dele Alli

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Controversial Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is seeing a psychologist to try and get rid of his self-destructive streak.

Shelvey emerged as the fall guy of the new Premier League season when he was sent off for treading on Dele Alli's ankle during his team's 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham yesterday.

The 25-year-old will not play again until September 10 and the Newcastle captain has been hammered by fans and pundits alike for his behaviour. 

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is seeing a psychologist to try and deal with his temper

Shelvey saw red for standing on Dele Alli's ankle during Newcastle's defeat by Tottenham

Now Sportsmail can reveal that Shelvey is aware that he has a temper problem on the field and had been working with a specialist to try and curb it since a red card at Nottingham Forest midway through last season.

'Look, sometimes I just need to reign in it in on the football pitch,' Shelvey told Sportsmail. 'I need to just shut up and stuff. I need to not get involved and walk away. 

'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 and it was just childish.' 

Shelvey was issued a straight red card after appearing to purposely tread on the ankle of Alli

Shelvey was sent off at the City Ground for kicking out at Forest's Henry Lansbury as the two men lay on the ground after a tackle.

The former Liverpool player's red card was later rescinded but speaking last Friday, Shelvey said: 'When people wind me up I should just laugh.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.'

The full explosive interview with Shelvey will appear on Mail Online later this evening