Speaking on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel, Kevin Campbell has been attempting to explain Joelinton’s transformation into one of the Premier League’s best midfielders.
For the longest time, Joelinton was a figure for ridicule at Newcastle United – a striker who couldn’t score goals and had a first-touch reminiscent of a League One player.
However, since Eddie Howe’s arrival at the club, the Brazilian has transformed into a midfield player, and Campbell has struggled to explain how he’s transformed so well.
The pundit says that Howe deserves some credit for his transformation, but he’s placed most of the credit with the player himself, stating that he’s the one who has to go out and perform every week.
Campbell hails Joelinton
The pundit struggled to really explain Joelinton’s resurgence.
“How do you break this one down? Joelinton was signed as a striker. He couldn’t hit a barn door as a striker. All of a sudden he’s a box-to-box midfielder and he is incredible. Yes the manager takes some accolade, but Joelinton has to do the business, he’s the one who has to perform. That’s why I always say it’s the players,” Campbell said.
What a transformation
Campbell asked how Joelinton’s resurgence can be explained, and the simple answer is that it can’t.
It looked for all the world that the Brazilian was destined for the scrapheap when Newcastle became the richest club in the world last October, but somehow, Eddie Howe saw something in tis player that made him believe he could be reborn as a midfielder and how right he was.
Joelinton is genuinely now one of the best midfield players in England, and this resurgence has come from absolutely nowhere.
Don’t be surprised if Joelinton is in and around the Brazil squad once the World Cup is over.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
