A cold night at Anfield in December did little to spark life into Newcastle United's flailing Premier League campaign. However, it will be remembered as the evening that laid the foundations for one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the club's history.
Eddie Howe's inspired decision to start Joelinton in midfield against Liverpool that night left heads being scratched in the away end on Merseyside. But by the time the full-time whistle sounded, fans were already pondering whether the new Magpies boss had struck gold.
The call to drop the struggling striker deeper was one very few had thought up. Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock were both fully fit for the away clash but were overlooked in favour of this radical new plan.
“I thought Joelinton playing central midfield was a bit damning for some of those midfielders; Longstaff sitting on the bench, Willock sitting on the bench. They play in that position, they are recognised in that position, and he was chosen above them," BT pundit Martin Keown said after the 3-1 Liverpool defeat.
Keown didn't know it at the time but his comments foreshadowed what was to come for those two midfielders. Joelinton's move into midfield and subsequent success in that position means he is now an ever-present in Howe's central three. Willock and Longstaff are now fighting to earn the right to dislodge him going forward.
11 days later after his Liverpool showing, Joelinton produced one of his greatest performances in a Newcastle United shirt; hurrying, hassling, dominating and totally bullying Manchester United players in the middle of the park at St. James'. “This is the new Joelinton!" roared Martin Tyler on Sky Sports.
Since that night at Anfield, Joelinton has been like a man possessed. Drawing comparisons to Arsenal great Patrick Vieira, the Brazilian powerhouse has looked a player reborn, enjoying his football and lapping up the new-found support of the Geordie faithful week in, week out.
The confidence gained from his foray into midfield has helped Joelinton relocate the spark not seen since his days in the Bundesliga. The brace at Norwich on Saturday led to even more adoration from the Newcastle fans who had travelled to Norfolk, with heartwarming footage from the stands capturing the player soaking up the chants at full-time.
How things can change in six months - when Joelinton was questioning why he had made the £40m switch. "Of course I was thinking about it. I was thinking to myself, 'this is difficult, have I made the right decision for my career? Would I have been better off remaining in Germany?'" he said last month.
Joelinton's long-term future in midfield looks assured for as long as he puts in these type of performances going forward. Heaven only knows where he would be now had he not been used in midfield on that December night in the north west.
