Joelinton's 'special' moment with fans amid Newcastle United turnaround

Joelinton’s standing as a Newcastle United fan favouriate is ‘special’ given how fans felt about him just six months ago. The Brazilian netted a brace against Norwich City last weekend to continue his good run of form under Eddie Howe.

Those goals came on his 100th appearance for Newcastle, and while he is now enjoying a good spell in the XI, it’s no secret that his first year on Tyneside was tough going. Yet under Howe, Joelinton has looked like a different player and the very fact he was the last to leave the pitch against Norwich - with fans singing his name - shows just how far he has come.

Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Newcastle United editor Aaron Stokes picked up on Joelinton’s change in fortune. “That’s what makes it even better because everybody had written him off. There was nobody that said, let's move him to midfield. And there was nobody that said: 'let's just give him time, he'll eventually get there' - and that’s what makes it so special.

“There’s a brilliant video [against Norwich] of Joelinton standing in the middle of the pitch by himself with the full away end chanting his name. When you look at when Bruno came in, he hadn't even played a minute for Newcastle but his name was already been sung. He was coming out of interviews abroad saying ‘the fans love me already.’

“For Joelinton, it was the complete opposite - he’s been vilified and booed but now is one of the fans' favourites. He's got his own chant. He's got the banners and he's got the Joelinton shirts, and it does generally look like he's touched by it and I think that's just what makes it even better - the fact you can tell that he really really does feel it and is really is appreciative.”

With the season coming to