Newcastle United have found a £40m answer ahead of January transfer window

That sentence has absolutely rang true in the last fortnight. By moving from central midfield out to the wide areas, Joelinton is a major part of the reason why Newcastle United look back to their 2022-23 selves.

Previously, the conundrum for Howe had been how to fit both Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, two players who want to play on the left wing, into the same starting XI. The irony is, neither have got the nod in their preferred position of late.

Howe has instead reverted back to the formula that served up Champions League qualification - Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock as the midfield three, with the latter dovetailing with Joelinton down the left. Sandro Tonali’s impact is worth a mention too.

Indeed, that has immediately brought a better balance to the team and in turn fetched three consecutive wins in all competitions for the first time since September 2023.

Barnes has found himself on the bench while Gordon has had to sacrifice parts of his game by switching over to the right. Yes, he grabbed a sublime assist in the 1-0 win over Arsenal but cut a deeply frustrated figure, particularly during the first-half at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Watch Geordie Journos on ShotsTV! Are Newcastle United ‘back’ after three straight wins?

But Howe may have found a solution to keep Gordon on the left. The answer? Joelinton, of course.

Trailing 1-0 at the City Ground, the pair switched wings after the half-time. Gordon - albeit not on top form - became more involved and Joelinton... well, we all know he went on to become the matchwinner with a left-footed bullet.

"He's like gold dust because you know wherever you put him, he will do a good job," Howe said after the 3-1 win. "His attitude never changes. He's playing in different positions because we utilise him there in games and he has to do the training, and he never flickers. He will do whatever the team needs him to do.”

Howe added: “Joey is an amazing player, isn’t he? Today he moved from left wing to right wing. It wasn’t something we necessarily pre-planned but I felt it was needed in the game to try and get Anthony into the game more was the purpose of that.

“Joey goes to the right and does a good job wherever he is put. He’s got that attitude that he doesn’t care where he is as long as he’s on the pitch. He scored a great goal, a great left-footed finish and I had the perfect view of it.”

Joelinton gives everything for the cause and even if his form dips, which happens from time to time, he’s a gem, worth his considerable weight in gold.

During Newcastle’s recent run of five league games without a win, talk often centred around the need to sign a right forward ahead of the January transfer window.

While most people will agree that remains the case - after all, it is the only position that hasn’t been strengthened since the PIF takeover three years ago - Howe might have found his short-term fix.

Once a No.9 labelled a £40m flop, the Brazilian has become Newcastle’s Mr Versatile. By this point, you wouldn’t bet against him rivalling Nick Pope for the number one jersey!