Callum Wilson saw people on the street putting Joelinton down but Newcastle star had last laugh

Callum Wilson has admitted that he saw people on the street putting Joelinton down at his team-mate's lowest ebb at Newcastle United before the Brazilian's 'unbelievable turnaround' this season.

It is approaching three years now since Newcastle smashed their transfer record and signed Joelinton from Hoffenheim for £40m. Joelinton had made his name in the Bundesliga as a forward, but the record signing soon found himself playing in an isolated, ill-suited number nine role as he struggled to adjust to life in the Premier League.

However, Joelinton did not give up and the 25-year-old even enlisted the help of his own personal analyst, Diego Vieira, and fitness coach, Felipe Lira, and worked hard on his English. The arrival of head coach Eddie Howe ultimately proved a turning point last November and Joelinton has been named the club's player of the year following a remarkable transformation, which mirrored his side's own turnaround this season.

It was Howe who pushed Joelinton into a deeper role, after Ciaran Clark was sent off against Norwich City earlier this season, and the £40m man has been reborn as a remarkably effective box to box midfielder after taking the aggression his team-mates saw in training into match days. However, the reality is that wherever Joelinton has played under Howe, the versatile Brazilian's determination, tactical intelligence and quality have stood out.

"The switch into midfield was obviously a masterstroke by the manager when he came in but, for me, what stands out the most is his mentality," Wilson told the Footballer's Football Podcast. "For a young lad to come to England from a different country is difficult at any point in your career.

"I think to sign as a striker, to have the number nine