Alan Shearer hails Eddie Howe for transforming two Newcastle players in Brentford win verdict

Alan Shearer has heaped praise on Eddie Howe for the way he has turned round the performances of Ryan Fraser and Joelinton.

The two players were the stars of the show on Saturday as Newcastle United comfortably beat 10-man Brentford 2-0 at the Brentford Community Stadium.

After Josh Dasilva had been sent off for the hosts following a reckless foul on Matt Targett, the Magpies dominated the game and took the lead in the 33 rd minute courtesy of a Joelinton header from a Fraser cross.

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Joe Willock’s goal sealed the victory just before half-time, with Howe’s side now 14 th in the table and four points clear of the relegation zone.

On Saturday’s Match of the Day, pundit Shearer was delighted with the result saying: “It was another really impressive performance.

“When you consider they were without three of their best players in [Kieran] Trippier, [Callum] Wilson and [Allan] Saint-Maximin like they were last weekend [against West Ham United]. Yes, they were helped by the sending off, but you’ve still got to do your job.”

The legendary Newcastle striker went on to single out Fraser and Joelinton, adding that he was pleasantly surprised by the way they had improved their game.

He said: “They are two players who struggled for large periods in a Newcastle shirt but since Eddie Howe has been in you’ve seen two different players and no wonder Fraser was smiling and laughing after the game.

“He was fantastic today, most of the afternoon he went past his marker with ease, he got balls into the box, and he was a real threat all the time down that left hand side.

“ Joelinton has surprised me. The way he drives Newcastle forward as an attacking midfielder, the way he gets into