'Very scary' - Joelinton secrets revealed after Ciaran Clark 'helps' Newcastle save millions

Joelinton may have been wearing a black ICON baseball cap, but it did not take the youngsters training inside the barn at Newcastle United's training ground long to notice the towering figure taking a seat on the touchline to watch them play.

There was soon a queue of beaming six-year-olds lining up for a photograph with their hero at the end of the session. We have all seen the flags and Hawaiian shirts in the stands on match days, and heard that chant, but these scenes on Monday evening were another timely reminder of Joelinton's newfound popularity.

In reality, there has not been a Newcastle supporter young or old who has not been moved by this redemption story. The man once considered a £40m flop is now the frontrunner to win the club's player of the year award following a remarkable transformation that has mirrored his side's own turnaround under Eddie Howe.

It is important to note that, even during the difficult moments, Joelinton was always considered one of the best trainers at Newcastle, but the 25-year-old has been reborn as an aggressive 'weapon' on match days under Howe and welcomed the detail his manager has given him - right down to looking over his shoulder while pressing.

The idea of Joelinton thriving in the middle of the park would have once been scoffed at, but the Brazilian has embraced a change of role since first playing there for Newcastle after the Magpies went down to 10 men against Norwich last November. Ciaran Clark's red card that night may just end up saving Newcastle millions in the transfer market as Joelinton is now one of the first names on the team sheet under Howe after making the position his own.

As well as working with club staff after training, both on the pitches and in the