Eddie Howe had nothing but good things to say about Joelinton when asked about his importance to the team during Friday’s pre-match presser.
Speaking to the media on Friday ahead of the Newcastle United‘s trip to Aston Villa on Saturday, Eddie Howe was asked how much Joelinton would be worth now.
I think Howe’s answer (via The Chronicle) echoes the thoughts of the Toon Army as a whole: “Invaluable, I’d say. Players that can play in different positions and play them effectively are worth their weight in gold.
“To have the ability to change the system last week and to move him into a different role. Use his physicality to help us with Brentford‘s aerial play. He was incredible.
“Joelinton from minute one has been really committed and he’s been incredible in any position we ask him to play.”
I can’t think of a player in my lifetime who has gone through such a dramatic transformation as Joelinton has under Eddie Howe.
If someone had offered us £20million for him in the summer before the takeover we’d have snapped their hand off and laughed all the way to the bank, but now we couldn’t conceive of a figure that we’d be happy with to see our box-to-box beast leave.
Whether is was through fortune or judgement, moving Joelinton into the midfield worked wonders for the Brazilian. He went from being a striker who couldn’t score to a midfielder who didn’t let the opposition pass him practically overnight.
It wasn’t a huge shock to see him thrive in a midfield role for many Newcastle fans as they were aware that his success while playing for Hoffenheim was as a left-winger, it was only when Newcastle forked over £40million that they expected him to become a striker and the answer to their goalscoring problems.
Newcastle fans could see right away that he wasn’t a striker, but Steve Bruce persisted with playing him up front, even giving him the number nine shirt when he signed to reinforce the point that they expected him to score goals for the club.
The burden was eased when Newcastle signed Callum Wilson and he took over the burden of the number nine shirt, but still, Bruce would force Joelinton to play up front.
It was only when Eddie Howe made the move to pull Joelinton into the midfield following an early red card that his potential was truly unlocked.
Joelinton, Eddie Howe and the Newcastle fans have never looked back since that day. Joelinton is now a firm fan favourite with his own chant and a sea of Hawaiian shirts with his face plastered all over them seen on a match day.
With his Brazilian mate Bruno Guimaraes alongside him, there’s no stopping him now.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
