Newcastle United started the season in style, beating West Ham United 2-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday night.
The Magpies were buoyant after signing Jamal Lewis, Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson, and they energy carried into the performance.
Steve Bruce saw his side create chance after chance in the first half, and it finally told after the break.
Callum Wilson scored from close range after Jeff Hendrick flicked on Javi Manquillo’s cross, and Hendrick blasted home a second late on.
Two goals from debutants and a clean sheet, Newcastle can’t have asked for much more than that on the first day of the season.
Wilson will grab the headlines, but Hendrick was vital to the win, pick up an assist, a goal and offered great defensive protection down the right flank.
The 28-year-old wasn’t seen as a particularly exciting signing when Newcastle landed him on a free transfer from Burnley, but fans have been praising him for his performance.
Some suggested that Hendrick was ‘brilliant’ and ‘fantastic’, adding that such a great performance was ‘unexpected’ but they were ‘blown away’ by his display.
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