Joelinton overwhelmingly voted Player of the Year by ChronicleLive readers

An incredible of ChronicleLive readers have voted Joelinton their Newcastle United Player of the Season.

Thinking back six months ago, when Newcastle were bottom of the league, it's some story. Written off as an expensive flop, the Brazilian striker found himself moved into midfield early on in a crucial relegation match at home to Norwich City in November.

The positional adjustment came about due to Ciaran Clark's red card after nine minutes - a sliding doors moment, or all part of the plan? We'll never know, but Clark could have inadvertently changed the course of what looked like a doomed season.

Joelinton became a monster that night. Protecting the ball like a lion protects its young. Ceaseless running, fearless tackling, passing positively and bulling the opposition midfield like a true enforcer.

The ten men salvaged a vital point, and Joelinton was not longer a striker, his home was in midfield. Newcastle secured their first win of the season four days later at home to another relegation rival, Burnley, and supporters had a new song for Big Joe: 'He's Brazilian..."

It got worse before it got better for Newcastle after Burnley. Three losses, 11 conceded, one scored, but Joelinton continued to grow and fans could scarcely believe what they were seeing.

The tide slowly began to turn with a win away at Leeds seen as a huge foothold, Joelinton was clearly injured but started the game where others may have cried off. A mini winter break in Saudi Arabia was followed by six unbeaten games and Joelinton was at the heart of them all.

He scored away at Brentford and was last man off the pitch as the travelling support loudly serenaded him. Newcastle were up to 14th.

Joelinton missed two games with injury in March