Adrenalised by the sheer relief at having finally scored his first Crystal Palace goal in his 32nd outing, and knowing he had earned the Eagles a point at the death, Daniel Munoz roared.
They were jubilant scenes at the end on Saturday, as Munoz was mauled by his team-mates, and by manager Oliver Glasner, after heading Palace level at 1-1 with Newcastle.
For Munoz, a first strike in blue and red was a long time coming. The right-back scored 19 goals in three and a half seasons for his last club Genk, and it was that incredible attacking output that led one individual close to Dougie Freedman to alert Palace’s sporting director to Munoz.
Since joining in January, the 28-year-old has started every single game available to him, registering six assists along the way and delivering breathless, high-octane displays at right wing-back.
While there has understandably been criticism of the club’s minimalistic approach to the summer transfer window — which is, in part, why they sit 17th and why Tuesday’s trip to Ipswich feels a six-pointer — Palace signed superbly in January. Snaring Adam Wharton and Munoz for a total amounting to less than £29million was some achievement.
Munoz’s attacking output has slowed somewhat this season, despite Saturday’s crucial goal. That is, without question, partly explainable by the departure of Michael Olise, with whom Munoz swiftly developed such chemistry down the Eagles’ right flank in the second half of the season.
Then, when injuries hit, Nathaniel Clyne played at right centre-back. He, too, combined well with the Colombian international.
Perhaps because of Munoz’s sheer hunger to bomb up the line and make off-the-ball runs into the box, the defensive side of his game has, on occasion, been called into question.
Unfairly so. He has made a combined 66 tackles and interceptions in the Premier League — the most of any player this season. If you want to know what a well-balance modern-day wing-back looks like, here is a fine example.
It is little surprise he has become certain to play the full 90 minutes for Colombia’s national team when fit, scoring a belting goal — the winner — to beat Spain in March, just four months before they were crowned European champions.
Glasner is as fond of Munoz as of the goal he scored to salvage a point at Selhurst Park, after which the Austrian earned a booking for darting out of his technical area to mob Munoz and his players.
“He’s unbelievable,” Glasner said on Saturday. “He had just one training session with us after twice playing 90 minutes for Colombia [in November] with all the travelling and the time difference.
“He was sprinting 600m at Aston Villa [in Palace’s 2-2 draw on November 23]. It shows his [physical] condition, but also his heart and character. He’s a fantastic player.”
More than that, he has become an irreplaceable player for a team who have fallen on hard times.
