With nine goals in his first seven Barcelona starts, La Liga’s Golden Boot already looks like Robert Lewandowski’s to lose. But joining the prolific Pole could be joined on the end-of-season podium could be a striker who, after leaving Newcastle United for just £2.5 million in the summer of 2019, has quietly and efficiently gone about establishing himself as one of Europe’s most underrated marskmen.
Vinicius Jr, Karim Benzema, Iago Aspas, Antoine Griezman, Alvaro Morata; these are just some of the players trailing in Joselu’s wake in the Spanish football scoring charts.
After hitting a more-than-respectable 14 goals for a relegated Alaves in 2021/22, this is already shaping up to be Joselu’s most prolific campaign as a top-flight player.
Eight starts, six goals; a tally that looks even more impressive when you consider that his Espanyol side are just one point above the relegation zone as things stand.
Newcastle United flop Joselu can’t stop scoring in La Liga
“Joselu adds to the team. We are delighted with him,” Espanyol coach Diego Martinez said of his summer signing after the one-time Real Madrid youngster hit the net twice in a 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Cadiz; following up a trademark header with a brutal right-footed finish.
“(We admire) everything he provides beyond the goals.”
His hold-up play, his work-rate, his ability to lead the line alone or or with a partner.
“I’m happy because the goals help the team add (points),” Joselu himself tells Marca. “You always want to win. We have a great group and surely, next week, we’ll get the three points at home.”
Joselu, scorer of just six goals in 46 Premier League games for Newcastle United, is not just in excellent form. He’s in historic form. No one since Rafa Maranon all the way back in 1979 has mustered six or more goals in Espanyol’s first eight league games of a new campaign. That includes Spain international’s Raul de Tomas and Gerard Moreno, plus Raul Tamudo, their all-time record league goalscorer.
32-year-old Joselu is ageing like a fine win at Espanyol. Not bad for a man who looked well and truly corked at St James’ Park.
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