The last few months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for Newcastle United.
We don’t dwell too much on that transfer saga during the transfer, but despite the form of new fan favourite, Nick Woltemade, the Toon have struggled to find consistency.
In the league, Eddie Howe’s men have won just two of their first eight games but in the Champions League, they are soaring high.
Defeat to Barcelona is no embarrassment and since then they have bounced back well, beating Union Saint Gilloise 4-0 in match week two and then seeing off Jose Mourinho’s Benfica 3-0 on Tuesday evening.
This was one of Newcastle’s best performances of the season, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes both on the scoresheet.
While Howe was missing Sandro Tonali, it was arguably no surprise that one of the best results of the campaign came when Anthony Elanga and Joelinton were both on the bench.
Elanga has failed to score since his mega-money £55m move from Nottingham Forest while it does look as though we’ve now seen the best of Joelinton in black and white.
Newcastle's Joelinton problem
After suffering a 2-1 defeat to Brighton last weekend, Howe rang the changes for the visit of Mourinho’s men.
Jacob Murphy – who assisted Gordon’s strike – came in for Elanga on the right flank while in midfield it was all change.
Jacob Ramsey and Lewis Miley came into the team at the expense of the unavailable Tonali and the out-of-form Joelinton.
The Italian is likely to walk back into the team once he returns to full fitness but the future of their Brazilian warrior is less certain.
The £40m man’s time in the north east has been that of a movie. He joined as the club’s record signing during the Steve Bruce era and was initially acquired as a centre-forward.
Yet, after bagging just two goals in his debut Premier League campaign with the Toon, an alternative solution was thought of.
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Howe’s arrival at St James’ Park coincided with Joelinton’s transition to become a central midfielder. Since then, he’s been a wonderful asset to the club. He’s been a mainstay, missing just nine top-flight games last term.
He was also vital as Newcastle ended their trophy drought in 2024/25. Journalist Craig Hope remarked that the 29-year-old had his “greatest game in black & white” during the final at Wembley.
Yet, 2025/26 has been a tale of woe for such a much-loved figure. The nadir of his season so far came in that game against Brighton.
Hauled off at half-time, he was criticised by various sections of the media, including Toon reporter Mark Douglas who said that he is now “nowhere near his best”.
Minutes played
45
Touches
39
Accurate passes
21
Dribbled past
2
Dribbles
0
Shots
0
Key passes
0
Crosses
0
Aerials lost
100%
While Joelinton’s downfall is sad, for the sake of Newcastle’s season, Howe needs fresh blood and that’s exactly what he got against Benfica on Tuesday.
Newcastle's Joelinton solution
During their 3-0 win in midweek, Howe turned to a midfield trio we have never seen play together before.
Bruno Guimaraes kept his place in the middle of the park but he was joined by summer signing Ramsey and young Miley.
Ramsey has missed a lot of football since moving to St James’, largely due to injury, and did perhaps struggle on Tuesday. The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder noted that the former Aston Villa man ‘did not fully grasp his opportunity’.
Yet, Miley certainly did. In fact, he’s grasped his opportunity incredibly well in the last two games. Hailed as “the next young English superstar” by BBC Sport’s Pat Nevin, it’s easy to see why comparisons to fellow academy graduate Elliot Anderson have begun to be made.
It was Miley who produced the assist for Woltemade’s goal against the Seagulls a few days ago and it was Miley who ran the show in the middle of the park against Benfica.
The aforementioned Ryder summed up his performance well, writing that ‘the teenager stepped up to the challenge with ease. He battled well against seasoned European campaigners and passed with purpose and showed no fear.’
No fear is precisely what the 19-year-old has showcased since bursting onto the scene. After all, it was the young Englishman who dazzled PSG as a 17-year-old during Newcastle’s last Champions League venture.
Miley’s career has been rather stop-start since then due to injury, but the few cameos we’ve seen from this week are a timely reminder of just how good a player Howe has on his hands.
His performance against Benfica was remarkably complete, something the numbers help substantiate.
Minutes played
90
Touches
51
Accurate passes
37/41 (90%)
Shots
2
Expected goals (xG)
0.53
Key passes
1
Tackles
2
Interceptions
2
Recoveries
5
Duels won
4/6
He completed 90% of his passes and completed 100% of his pass attempts inside his own half, dictating the play beautifully. While he did not pick up an assist on this occasion, he did register a key pass and also had two shots.
Miley also demonstrated what a marvellous ball winner he is, winning both of his aerial battles and winning 50% of his ground duels.
This performance, in particular, should have made him undroppable for the game versus Fulham on Saturday. In the process, he may well put a permanent end to Joelinton’s Newcastle career too.
For the Brazilian, this should be the end of his time as a regular starter and it would not be a surprise if new sporting director Ross Wilson soon deemed him surplus to requirements.