Kieron Dyer believes Eddie Howe has taken Joelinton and Miguel Almiron ‘to another level’ since taking over Newcastle United. He replaced Steve Bruce in charge in November 2021.
Bruce had struggled to get the best out of the Brazilian and Paraguayan forwards over the previous two-and-a-half years. But they are now instrumental players in a Newcastle team that sits third in the Premier League and has made the Carabao Cup semi-finals this term.
No Magpies player has scored more goals across all competitions than Almiron with nine in 22 appearances this term. Callum Wilson ranks second with six goals in 15 games ahead of Bruno Guimaraes with four in 20. Joelinton and Chris Wood have struck three in 21 games.
But just Kieran Trippier on six has also laid on more assists than Joelinton on three, as well. Guimaraes and Allan Saint-Maximin have also both created three goals, while Almiron has fashioned two. Yet neither Joelinton nor Almiron offered a consistent threat under Bruce.
Almiron offered 13 of his 23 goals and five of his seven assists over 89 of his 145 Newcastle appearances under Bruce. The 28-year-old did not score or create a goal over his 10 games under Rafa Benitez after the Toon paid Atlanta United £21m for his transfer in January 2019.
Joelinton joined Newcastle from TSG Hoffenheim in a £40m transfer as Bruce’s first signing in July 2019. He would only go on to score 10 goals and create a further eight in 89 games. Yet the 26-year-old has offered six goals and three assists in 46 games since Howe came in.
Dyer hails Howe’s impact on Joelinton and Almiron’s Newcastle careers
Former Newcastle midfielder Dyer lauds Howe for his work turning Almiron and Joelinton’s St James’ Park careers around. But in praising their efforts, the 44-year-old mistakenly says Bruce utilised Joelinton as a midfielder before Howe made him a Player of the Year winner.
“Newcastle fans won’t like me for saying it but to be fair [play] to Bruce,” Dyer stated on talkSPORT. “He did start playing Joelinton as a midfielder. But, obviously, Eddie has taken his game to another level, just like he has with Almiron.”
Of Joelinton’s 89 appearances under Bruce across all competitions, the Newcastle star only ever featured as a forward. He earned 68 outings as a striker and played a further 17 from the left wing and four from the right. But he has played 32 in central midfield under Howe.
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