‘World-beater’ - Former Sunderland star picks two Newcastle United players transformed by Eddie Howe

Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent has picked out two Newcastle United players he believes have been transformed by Eddie Howe.

The former Bournemouth manager has overseen a remarkable turnaround at St James Park since he was named as successor to former Magpies boss Steve Bruce in November last year. The resurgence under Howe has unquestionably been boosted by a transfer outlay of over £200m as the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Dan Burn all joined the Magpies squad.

But former England forward Bent believes two players Howe inherited from his predecessors have felt the major benefit of the hard work and dedication the United manager puts into his players.

Bent has been impressed with Joelinton’s transformation from an underperforming striker to a dominating midfielder and described winger Miguel Almiron as ‘phenomenal’ after he showed a major improvement in recent weeks.

He told Matchday Extra: “What he (Eddie Howe) has done for people like Joelinton, players like Joelinton, who was a centre-forward, they brought him in to score goals. But that wasn’t his game.  They put him in central midfield and now he looks like a world-beater.

“Almiron, at the minute, he is on a different planet. His goal against Fulham, another one against Brentford. He has been phenomenal, so Eddie Howe, and his coaching staff, deserve huge credit.”

The duo will hope to continue their recent improvement the Magpies visit Manchester United next Sunday afternoon.