---
title: "McIlroy hails Howe for transforming Joelinton"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2022/07/12/sammy-mcilroy-hails-eddie-howe-for-transforming-joelinton/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2022-07-12T12:18:43Z"
modified: "2022-07-12T12:18:44Z"
---

# McIlroy hails Howe for transforming Joelinton

Joelinton was named [Newcastle United Player of the Year](https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/joelinton-scoops-newcastle-united-player-of-the-year-award/) after an outstanding season, but Sammy McIlroy was quick to credit Eddie Howe for his hard work with the 25-year-old. Joelinton [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joelinton/transfers/spieler/333241) Newcastle from TSG Hoffenheim in 2019 as a centre-forward, but he’s scored just 14 goals with eight assists from [117 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joelinton/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/333241).

The uncapped Brazilian looked finished at Newcastle after scoring two goals from [38 league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joelinton/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/333241) in 2019/20 and four goals from 31 league games in 2020/21, but Howe turned his career around with a positional shift to midfield. Joelinton was deployed in a box-to-box role and thrived. He even scored goals after returning to the attack (a brace against Norwich on April 23) so it’s like having a new striker.

McIlroy told the [Belfast Telegraph](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sport/newcastle-can-reap-benefit-of-giving-northern-ireland-ace-jamal-lewis-a-second-chance-says-sammy-mcilroy-41828159.html): “What Eddie Howe has done to Joelinton is unbelievable. He seemed completely out of the picture but now he’s been transformed and is a completely different player. That is great management by Howe.” Joelinton is now a double threat with his confidence back – he can be a destroyer in midfield and focal point in attack.

Howe has the 25-year-old, Callum Wilson and Chris Wood up front, but he might want another centre-forward as Wilson has struggled with injuries while Wood has struggled for goals. Joelinton has been rejuvenated, but it might be a gamble to put the full scoring burden on him next season.

***[In other news, Matt Ritchie could return to Newcastle United’s first-team](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/07/12/matt-ritchie-could-return-to-first-team/)***