Alan Shearer has singled out Joelinton and Miguel Almiron for personifying Newcastle United’s transformation under Eddie Howe. The South American duo were on the scoresheet as the Magpies trounced Leicester City 3-0 on home soil.
Both players had endured difficult starts to life on Tyneside, having arrived as record-breaking transfers within months of each other. Almiron scored just once in his first year at St James’ Park and struggled to maintain a regular first-team spot.
Joelinton was discarded by most Toon supporters as a £40million flop and his days at Newcastle looked numbered. However, the pair have enjoyed a renaissance since Howe’s arrival and are two of the first names on the team sheet.
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Another former record signing, Shearer, lauded the Newcastle duo for their stellar showing at the King Power Stadium. While Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman excelled, the Magpies’ all-time leading goalscorer highlighted Almiron and Joelinton for special praise.
“I thought every single player in a black-and-white shirt today was superb,” Shearer told Match of the Day. “I could have picked Botman, I could have picked Trippier, I could have picked Bruno (Guimaraes) who was sensational, but the two players I want to highlight epitomise everything that is good about Newcastle and Eddie Howe.
“Almiron and Joelinton, what they bring to this team, the energy, the understanding they have with both of their full-backs… Joelinton was very good again, getting the penalty that Chris Wood tucks away well.
“Watch this for a goal from Almiron. First of all, to get in behind, then the ability to do that (score). The move, the touch, control and then having to finish it off in the way he did, when he's not got a lot to aim at.
“They work hard for their full-backs. Trippier must love playing with him (Almiron) in front. Newcastle get a corner, Joelinton wants it more than anyone else. This is the one thing also that Joelinton has never done. He's never shied away, never hidden from getting the ball even when it wasn't going well for him in a black-and-white shirt. He's always managed to do that.
“It was a superb performance. Almiron, nine (goals) in 16 (games) this season. It took him nine and 110 before to get that. The improvement in him and in a lot of the players that were there before Eddie got there… he deserves great credit, what a job he's doing. And yes, second in the league!”
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