Joselu impresses for Newcastle United vs Spurs

Despite only scoring four goals in 30 Premier League games last season, Joselu led the line excellently on Saturday as Newcastle United lost 2-1 to Spurs.

When Rafa Benitez signed Joselu for the paltry fee of around £5m last summer, Toon fans were rightfully skeptical over the quality of a player who only managed four goals in two years at Stoke City.

The ex-Real Madrid and Spain U21 international, unfortunately, did little to prove Newcastle supporters wrong last season. Not only was his goal record poor, but his aimless jogging and poor first touch became a running joke in Magpie circles, with any hope of victory gone as soon as you saw his No.21 flash up on the fourth official’s electronic substitution board.

But with the arrival of West Brom’s Salomon Rondon at St. James’ Park, and the expectations that come with signing a proven Premier League striker, there appears to bea method to Benitez’s madness in favouring Joselu to start over the Venezuelan against Spurs. With Dwight Gayle sent to West Brom on loan as part of the Rondon deal, Joselu was the only striker left who played a part in last season’s side, and continuity was clearly important to Rafa as he named an identical side to the one that performed so well in 2018.

You could argue that neither Gayle or Joselu deserved to remain in this season’s squad given their lackluster 2017/18, but with new strikers Rondon and Yoshinori Muto on the bench and fans vocal in their expectation to see new faces up front, Joselu was gifted a golden opportunity on Saturday to prove himself against fresh competition and temporarily at least recapture the liking of the St. James’ Park crowd.

The Spaniard stepped up to the plate brilliantly, with forward teammate and last season’s Toon top goalscorer Ayoze Perez off the pace, it was largely up to Joselu to worry Spurs’ defense, and his movement was exceptional for Newcastle’s only goal of the match. With DeAndre Yedlin moving with the ball closer and closer to the Spurs penalty area, Joselu can be seen in the box constantly adjusting his runs to unsettle center backs Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen.

The Toon forward’s movement worked, and the value of having a striker familiar with his teammates was clear when Ritchie received the ball on the right wing, and Joselu knew to wait for the Scottish international to cut inside on his strong left foot before slipping off the back of the Spurs defense and darting towards the goal. Ritchie’s cross was driven with pace but also a deceptive curve that only Joselu read correctly, and he met the ball with a deft touch of his head, directing it perfectly into the bottom right-hand corner of Hugo Lloris’ net.

It was almost a dream day for the Newcastle striker when in the 50th minute he produced a very tidy bit of skill that could’ve tied the game up at 2-2. Initially saving the ball from going out of play on the right wing, he stayed active and sniffed out a poor clearance from Serge Aurier, before firing a perfectly weighted outside of the foot pass that instantly took the whole Spurs’ defense leaving Kenedy completely unmarked in front of goal. The Brazilian fluffed the chance with an awful first touch that made Lloris’ life far too easy, but it was a reminder of Joselu’s role in Newcastle’s attacking organization that tested Spurs extremely well regardless of the result.

Of course, Benitez’s side appeared far better in the second half as they struck the woodwork twice, but the first half was far more of a defensive disappointment than in attack. Rondon was an early replacement for Joselu as he was introduced in the 59th minute, but Toon fans acknowledged the role the Spaniard played in the game with likely the loudest applause he has ever received in a Newcastle shirt.

Rondon will almost definitely be Newcastle’s long-term answer at striker this season, but Joselu’s performance will not be forgotten by Benitez. If he can keep this level of intensity and focus up for the next few months, there’s still time for Joselu to regain his reputation on Tyneside.