Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes and even Eddie Howe departed before the 2026/27 Premier League season. Had that been informed to the Magpies persuasion at the end of the shaky recent season, the general consensus might have been that relegation would be on the cards.

But Mathias Jaissle has been defiant since taking the reins at the start of August, rekindling a sense of unity and focus while instilling his vision, inculcating his ways across the St. James' Park squad.

There have been chances of several struggling stars of last season to bounce back. Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes are resurgent, as is Yoane Wissa.

However, Joelinton remains sidelined with injury, and his chances of becoming a midfield mainstay once again are diminishing.

Why Joelinton could be finished at Newcastle

Joelinton. Ah, Joelinton. When all is said and done, the Brazil international will leave Tyneside with cult status woven through those Newcastle streets.

He was down and out, a failed club-record striker, but Steve Bruce and then Howe helped him back to the fore, re-emerging as an all-action midfielder.

Last season, when Howe's Magpies were in a tail-spin, spiralling out of control, Toon writer Thomas Hammond noted that it might have been "the start of the end" for the big man, who indeed seems to have lost the essence of what made him so immense for the lion's share of his rich era on Tyneside.

With Guimaraes and Tonali rehoused in London, Joelinton, 30, might have thought he has the chance to become the main man in this new-look midfield, but Nico Gonzalez and Sean Steur and Lewis Miley will all take some effort to displace - with £35m summer signing from Monaco, Aladji Bamba, also waiting in the wings.

However, there's also another midfielder who Jaissle has taken a liking to and might manage to withstand pressure from Joelinton when the South American recovers from the thigh issue that is keeping him on the sidelines.

This midfielder may even grow into Jaissle's own version of Joelinton.

Why £25m Newcastle star is the new Joelinton

It's a good thing that Joelinton is still at Newcastle. His presence will be needed this season. However, he is not the same monstrous mass of muscle as before, and Jaissle is already promoting alternative options.

One of which would be Joe Willock, whose career at St. James' Park might have appeared all but over, though he has bounced back and now looks like a resurgent member of the system, maybe finally ready to realise his potential after that £25m transfer from Arsenal in 2021.

It's understood that Jaissle played a key part in keeping Willock at Newcastle this summer. He had interest from overseas, a unique alternative profile in midfield, someone who can play centrally but also contribute in attack. In the Premier League this season, the 27-year-old has so far scored, completed 96% of his passes and 67% of his dribbles across three fixtures. A promising start.

Willock hasn't been repositioned in the way Joelinton was, but there's no question that the former Arsenal star has been utilised across many positions in the past. His dynamism is one of his standout attributes - and when he first joined the Toon on loan, his goalscoring run was a thing to behold, scoring seven goals across a run of as many games.

The plaudits are piling back in. Former Newcastle defender John Anderson said that he "worked his socks off" during the recent Carabao Cup victory over Millwall, with Jaissle clearly having "shown belief" in the attacking midfielder.

He is progressive and versatile. The 5 foot 10 talent has the technical skillset and energy to direct Jaissle's vision and contribute toward the aggression that characterises the German tactician's tactical plan.

In that, he also echoes Joelinton under Howe's wing. The Brazilian hasn't been everyone's cup of tea since he arrived from Hoffenheim way back when, but there's no question that he has played his part, an instrumental piece of the puzzle alongside more technical midfielders.

This works both ways. Willock may well be scapegoated when things go awry, but Jaissle sees something he likes in the former England U20 international, and is sure to keep handing him chances to impress over the course of the campaign.

He has entered the final year of his contract at the club, but if Willock makes even more progress over the coming months, it wouldn't be out of the question to imagine Jaissle rocking up at PIF's front door and advocating for a new contract for the silky midfielder.

After such a strong start, anything's possible - and such form means Newcastle's next Joelinton might spell the end for his predecessor in the middle of the park.