The Newcastle United centre-back was brilliant against Crystal Palace.
When Newcastle United defender Florian Lejeune conceded a penalty against Southampton earlier this month, some Magpies fans were quick to bemoan his selection ahead of Ciaran Clark, but a week on the Frenchman proved exactly why Rafa Benitez rates him so highly.
The Newcastle manager waited patiently to get his man over the summer and now we know why, with the 26-year-old putting his recent blip behind him to deliver an excellent performance against an Eagles side scrapping for every last point.
Newcastle will come up against tougher opponents in the weeks ahead, but Lejeune did everything expected of him and he is already forming an impressive partnership with Jamaal Lascelles.
That is bad news for Clark, but potentially great news for Newcastle supporters, with their club seemingly heading in only one direction under the stewardship of Benitez.
Lejeune was always going to take time to settle at a new club in a new country and it was harsh to judge him on a single lapse in judgement against Southampton.
But it is a measure of the man how quickly he appears to have put that disappointment behind him, and it speaks volumes for his composure and Newcastle’s potential with him in their back line.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
