You suspect the Newcastle United supporters present on Saturday did not even remember the last time they had last watched Brighton in the flesh at St James' Park. The 0-0 draw in 2019 was that uneventful.
Joelinton won't have forgotten that day, however, after a bruising encounter up front against the Seagulls. Steve Bruce even admitted that Joelinton was starting to realise how 'difficult' it was in the Premier League after the club's record signing was bullied by Brighton's towering defenders, who were 'used to the physical confrontations'.
Well, 896 days on, Joelinton was the aggressor and never was that more apparent than in the closing stages. After staring the game in midfield, Joelinton was moved over to the right wing to try and stop the influential Marc Cucurella after Bruno Guimaraes replaced winger Ryan Fraser late on.
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It was quite the battle and Joelinton and Cucurella were soon having to be separated by their team-mates following a coming together in the 87th minute. It immediately brought back memories of similar scenes after Joelinton took issue with a tackle by Everton midfielder Dele Alli at St James' just a few weeks previously.
Rather than panicking, and fearing Joelinton might lose his head against Brighton, Howe calmly had his arms folded on the touchline as the fall-out ate up some valuable seconds. Perhaps, that reflects the trust the Newcastle head coach has in Joelinton, who is the only player who has started every Premier League game since he took charge.
It said it all about Joelinton's newfound status as a fans' favourite that the Brazilian's chant then got its loudest airing as all four corners sang: 'He's Brazilian. He only cost £40 million...' Boos followed when referee Martin Atkinson brandished a yellow.
This was certainly another committed display from Newcastle's combative midfielder that went down well with supporters. In fact, at one point, after a particularly meaty challenge in the first half, a Newcastle fan near the press box even leapt out of his seat and clenched his fists in celebration.
Joelinton's numbers told their own story in that regard. Defensively, Joelinton made 29 pressures, seven blocks, five clearances, two interceptions and two tackles, and the midfielder also won four aerial duels.
There were moments where just as it appeared Newcastle might be stretched, and caught out, that Joelinton would step in, cover for his team-mate and break up play once more. All the while, Joelinton covered a remarkable amount of ground.
On the ball, too, Joelinton had the second highest amount of touches (51) in a black-and-white shirt; made more carries than any of his team-mates (32); and had the best pass completion rate (81.3%) of those Newcastle players who were on the field for more than a couple of minutes. With his ability to wriggle out of tight situations, and his long stride, Joelinton was also able to take Newcastle up the field on the break, which was particularly important given how much of the ball Brighton had.
Clearly, this is a position that has suited Joelinton remarkably well ever since he was parachuted into the role after Ciaran Clark's early red card against Norwich City last November. That flashpoint has ended up proving one of many turning points in Newcastle's season and it may well, inadvertently, prove Clark's parting gift if he is to leave the club this summer as expected.
Yes, there have been players who have had a brief run in a new position over the years, but Joelinton has been among Newcastle's most consistent performers in a different role for several months now. The coaching staff have worked closely with Joelinton but, impressively, for a forward player, the Brazilian has not required a ridiculous amount of instruction and detail to adapt to a deeper role.
Most importantly, rather than questioning the change of position, Joelinton has embraced it. The club's record signing has continued to have one-on-one sessions with his analyst, Diego Vieira, to study his clips in his own time while also ensuring he has the engine to play in the role with the help of his personal fitness coach, Felipe Lira.
No wonder Howe loves him.
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