NOW HE’S NO ORDINARY JOE

FOR MORE than two years, Joelinton was the butt of the Newcastle jokes. How funny: Mike Ashley never wanted to open his wallet for fear of a North-east moth outbreak but then spent £40million — FORTY MILLION — on Joelinton. Twenty six games, 39 shots and 2,130 minutes of action later, the Brazilian scored his first goal. Look up any polls from the time for ‘Biggest Premier League Flops’ and Joelinton will be near the top.

Step forward Eddie Howe. The Newcastle boss came in, saw something no one else did, moved Joelinton into midfield and, now, the question is how close he is to a call-up for Brazil.

Newcastle are eight games unbeaten and Joelinton’s influence in the middle of the pitch has been crucial. No one in the Premier League has won more tackles since his move into midfield. Not N’Golo Kante, not Wilfred Ndidi. As Premier League transformations go, the renaissance of Joelinton is one of the best.

He — and Howe — are having the last laugh.