What a world we live in. If someone had told you 12 months ago that Joelinton would one day be named Newcastle’s Player Of The Season you’d have been sectioned – and yet here we are.
The man signed for £40m from Hoffenheim as the man to end our goal scoring woes never even looked like living up to his potential under Steve Bruce and quickly became the face of a failing club. Almost the living embodiment of the Mike Ashley era.
Enter the Amanda Staveley, The Ruebens and the PIF who binned off Steve Bruce and brought in a man who understands what the word “tactics” means in Eddie Howe and, after a brief adjustment period, the doom started to lift off and on the pitch and once again, the face of this would be Joelinton.
Forced into a midfield role against Norwich, it quickly became apparent that this was the role Joelinton was born to play and he has never looked back. Commanding box-to-box performances week in week out have made it virtually impossible to consider anybody else for the Player Of The Season crown.
Speaking to the Club Media, Joelinton said “It has been a great season for me. Many things have happened, but I’m very happy to help the team and help the team stay in the Premier League. Hopefully next season will be even better.”
The number 7 has already started to form a dangrous partnership with his fellow Brazilian, Brino Guimaraes and with Lucas Paqueta wideley believed to be joining in the summer, it’s going to be very exciting to see the Brazilian midfield trio in the Premier League next season, and who knows, maybe the partnership will result in an international call-up for Joelinton. Imagine that.