Newcastle United have performed well as a collective unit to start the 2022-23 campaign. Yes, the number of draws compared to the number of wins is frustrating for fans, but VAR has played a major role in influencing the outcome of a couple games.
Most players have put in solid shifts for the Magpies as some are trying to give their all to attract the attention of their national team managers ahead of the World Cup, while others are desperately trying to maintain or improve their place in Eddie Howe’s pecking order.
That being said, analytical website WhoScored has accumulated an overall summary of Newcastle’s best players so far this season based on match ratings. The data is separated by home and away ratings, and dynamic midfielder Allan Saint-Maximin tops the list for the Toon.
With a performance rating of 8.05 at St. James’ Park and a rating of 7.29 on the road, the Frenchman is living up to his reputation as the go-to star for Newcastle United. Other names high on the list are two players who experienced a resurgence with Howe’s arrival on Tyneside.
Joelinton continues his impressive form with Newcastle United as a box-to-box midfielder.
All the praise surrounding Brazilian striker-turned-midfielder Joelinton is on point. With an overall performance rating of 7.36, Joelinton is just behind Saint-Maximin (7.67). His involvement in the final third and his ability to run back and successfully disrupt opposing attacks before forcing action from the back line has been phenomenal.
Fabian Schar, who had one foot out the door after riding the bench during the Steve Bruce era, has turned things around in a major way. The Switzerland international has played a key role in contributing to the Magpies’ three clean sheets this season, and his 7.35 rating is third-best at the club.
As far as the players who joined in January and over the summer are concerned, Kieran Trippier leads that group as he is ranked fourth with a 7.27 rating. Record-breaking signing Alexander Isak is fifth (7.14), Goalkeeper Nick Pope is sixth (7.12), fan favorite Bruno Guimaraes is seventh (7.09), Matt Targett is ninth (6.82), Dan Burn rounds out the top ten (6.76), and Sven Botman is ranked thirteenth (6.55).
Eddie Howe is certainly getting the best out of his key players across the pitch, and it will be exciting to see how the next couple of matchweeks unfold for Newcastle United as players continue to develop their chemistry on the pitch.