The midfielder was at his dazzling best as Newcastle United were thumped at home by Fulham.
Days after sending Jeff Stelling into a live TV meltdown with an otherworldly 96th-minute equaliser against Leeds United, Tom Cairney was at it again. Thumping home a brilliant long-range strike to open the scoring at St James’ Park, the Fulham play-maker offered a stern indication of exactly why the Cottagers are refusing to accept anything less than £20million for his services.
The Chronicle reports that Rafael Benitez made an enquiry for the nine goal, nine assist midfielder in January, only to balk at what would be a Championship record-breaking fee.
Yet if there was any clear justification why a team should spend £20million on a player who has not played a Premier League game since 2010, his dazzling performance on Tyneside was it.
Notwithstanding another Goal of the Month contender, Cairney ran rings around Newcastle’s midfield and outshone Jonjo Shelvey, his closest challenger for the title of the league’s finest central midfielder, and constantly threaded perfect through balls into the path of Fulham’s rampant front three.
Cairney also dictated the tempo in the second half with poise and maturity, Fulham eventually running out comfortable 3-1 winners at St James’ Park as Mike Ashley watched on from above. A penny for his thoughts.
Having witnessed Cairney in full flow, first-hand, you wonder whether Newcastle may have a new record signing in the summer.
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