Those Magpies players who are not on international duty have trained as usual this week, including a double-session on Wednesday, but have no fixture this weekend.
Shelvey has been one of United's standout players so far this term, scoring three goals and having a hand in many more - including the pass which allowed Christian Atsu to cut inside and curl home the only goal of the game at Rotherham last Saturday.
And the midfielder believes the hard-fought win at the AESSEAL New York Stadium was the perfect way to follow up the dramatic 4-3 victory against Norwich.
"It was a horrible match to play in - the ball was in the air for probably 80 per cent of the match - but the main thing was getting the three points," he told nufc.co.uk as he visited Shanklea Primary School in Cramlington to surprise ballboy Joshua Follin.
"If you're going to go up in this league you need to go to places like that and get the points. I thought we defended really well; we battled throughout and we showed real heart and desire to get the three points.
"There will be more 'glamorous' games coming up, but it was nice to go there and get the three points because you can see what it means to those teams. Playing against Newcastle is probably the pinnacle of their season so we needed to match their work rate, effort and desire and then that extra bit of quality can shine through for us.
"In this league, games come thick and fast. I've played in the last few games in this little period before the international break so it's nice to have a break now, get some rest and then go again for Brentford.
"But on the flipside, when you're winning you don't want to stop. You want to keep playing and playing and playing and keep winning games, because the more points you get under your belt the better."
England international Shelvey worked hard during the summer to lose weight and improve his fitness, but started the season out of the starting XI.
However, he has become more and more influential in recent weeks and admitted: "It's just nice to play for this great football club. I'd play left-back if I had to, as long as I was on that pitch and starting every week.
"I know it's a team game but you are obviously disappointed when you don't start - I think you'd be mad not to be disappointed, but you have to take that on the chin and I've done that.
"I started the season on the bench but now I've got myself into the team and my plan is to stay in the team and keep fighting for my place week in, week out."
Tickets for Newcastle United v Brentford are now available on general sale.To secure your seat, please visit www.nufc.co.uk/tickets, call 0844 372 1892 (calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge) or visit the St. James' Park box office.
