An incredible 84.1% 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.
READ MORE: Joelinton hailed as Premier League's most improved player
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 (a win away at Southampton and the loss at Chelsea) but started every game thereafter. Fittingly, Norwich away, the reverse of the fixture where he moved into midfield, saw him score twice in a rampant 3-0 win. His fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes netted the third on what was also Joelinton's 100th game for Newcastle.
'It was just like watching Brazil' wrote Lee Ryder at Carrow Road. Newcastle were safe as houses
It was extremely sad and worrying to see his season end on a stretcher after 11 minutes at Burnley. Thankfully the injury wasn't as serious as it looked.
There has been good news this week however, as Joelinton earns a well-earned break, ChronicleLive readers showed their appreciation via the voting form. The big Brazilian was overwhelmingly crowned Player of the Year, after claiming 84.1% of the vote.
His team-mate Bruno Guimaraes came second with 11.1% . Thanks to everyone who voted, and thanks Joelinton for an incredible season.
ChronicleLive NUFC Player of the Season vote results
1st Joelinton 84.1%
2nd Bruno Guimaraes 11.1%
3rd Fabian Schar 3.1%
4th Allan Saint-Maximin 1.5%
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