FourFourTwo have recently released their ‘best 100 players in the Premier League right now’ – and both Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton feature!
Saint-Maximin, placed at 32th, has been a livewire when fit this season and a big part of any success we’ve had since he signed for the club back in 2019.
While his goals and assists numbers may need to improve, the pure excitement he generates on a football pitch and his ability to make something happen out of nothing has been crucial.
The slight surprise is Joelinton – placed 94th on the list – with his new combative midfield role and his willingness to fight and challenge for every ball earning him significant praise from football experts around the country.
Under Eddie Howe, the Brazilian has transformed from £40m flop with only four goals in 31 appearances last year to a dominant box-to-box midfielder who is now one of the first names on the team sheet and a nightmare to play against.
Here’s what FourFourTwo had to say about both:
32nd – Allan Saint-Maximin
“He is the Premier League’s finest entertainer, yet also capable of its purest grit too. The French thrill-seeker has single-handedly dragged Newcastle either side of their takeover, and they’ll owe him much if they stay up.”
94th – Joelinton
“The Brazilian’s new role as a box-to-box midfielder has proved a stroke of genius. His physicality, work-rate and determination have allied perfectly to the new intensity that Howe demands.”
