Joelinton's transformation from a 'laughing stock' into a key figure in Newcastle United's midfield is 'one of the stories of the season'. That is the view of pundits on BBC's Monday Night Club, where Micah Richards, Chris Sutton and New York Times writer Rory Smith debated the former number nine's revival.
Joelinton continued his impressive run of form by opening the scoring in the Magpies' victory at Brentford, a result which extended the club's unbeaten run to seven matches in the Premier League. The form of the 25-year-old alongside Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock in midfield has been integral to this form, with January signing Bruno Guimaraes forced to settle for substitute appearances so far.
Newcastle sit second to only Liverpool in the Premier League form book for the last six matches, and presenter Mark Chapman led the discussion on the Magpies and Joelinton. Here is a full transcript of the discussion from the BBC's Monday Night Club.
MC: What Eddie Howe has done with Joelinton is one of the stories of the season, isn't it Chris?
CS: Yep, I think what Eddie Howe has done with Newcastle as well watching them recently is pretty phenomenal. Now, a decisive factor in the game at the weekend was the sending off but the way Newcastle were playing prior to that, they are a front-foot team.
To think when Joelinton went to Newcastle...heavily mocked, wasn't he? Eddie Howe has played him in this midfield position, and him and [Joe] Willock were brilliant once again at the weekend. His header was exceptional. It's interesting as a few moments earlier, Chris Wood had a similar opportunity and didn't take it.
Joelinton is a player full of confidence, energy, drive. They signed Bruno who was seen to be their saviour, and this is a guy who can't actually get a game because of the form of the three midfield players.
Eddie Howe is in a great position. They are a team that are absolutely flying, and the biggest part of that is their midfield.
MR: But do you think that's because the weight of the £40m price tag, goalscorer...that's why he became a little bit of a laughing stock. But pushing back, he's actually done very well as you said.
CS: Maybe that change has taken the weight off his shoulders because there isn't the goal expectation. Whatever it is, I doubt he will be moved back up top now. I think they've found his best position.
MR: It's interesting. There was an interview after one of the games, someone said Joelinton is the best in training, and then [Kieran] Trippier as well on his Instagram story was doing a question and answer, and he said Joelinton again is one of the best in training.
Up until the last three or four months, you would never have thought that. It just shows you what they see on a day to day basis.
MC: Is the credit going to the player, the coaching staff or both?
MR: It's both because when you're at that level and you know things are not right, and like Chris said about the £40m price tag, you can feel sorry for yourself. But he didn't, he rolled up his sleeves and said I can do a job for this team, and fair play to Eddie Howe for noticing that and sticking with him.
It would have been easy to put Bruno in, but to stick with Shelvey, Willock and Joelinton...at the start of the season you would never have thought it would have been formidable, but it has been really good.
RS: The thing with Joelinton is if you look through his career, he never scored goals. I don't want to badmouth Newcastle's scouting process, but I don't know if something got a bit lost in translation when he signed from Hoffenheim.
That often happens with players who don't work out very well, nobody seems keen to take credit. He was signed by Hoffenheim essentially as a replacement for [Roberto] Firmino, because Firmino was the other non-goalscoring forward there. I wonder if playing in midfield isn't that far out of his wheelhouse, whether it's something that suits him better than being a striker.
MC: I'm going to throw some stats in on said player. This is for players who have played more than 300 minutes under Eddie Howe. Joelinton averages per 90 minutes the most tackles attempted, the second most successful tackles, the second most duels won, the third most aerial duels won, the fourth most possessions won, and the fourth most possessions won in the final third.
On top of that, in this calendar year they have only conceded three which is the fewest in the top-flight. They conceded 80 in 2021 which was the most by a Premier League side. Bearing in mind those combative stats and the defensive numbers as a whole, he's solidified them.
RS: I think it's a nicely balanced midfield, isn't it? It does a little bit of everything. He gives them a physical presence, but I just wonder if he's suited to the role and possibly that was something he was able to do and was more effective at than being an out and out forward. I don't think that was ever his game.
MC: Callum Wilson said he's a joke, at the minute he's our player of the season. The way Eddie has transformed him, bringing him into midfield where he is now breaking up the play. He has been outstanding since he has made that transition and looks a different player.
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