6’3″ giant surprise name in Newcastle’s five Players of the Year for 2017/18
2. Ayoze Perez
Games for Newcastle: 37 – Goals: 10 – Assists: 4
If you had asked any Newcastle fan in December if Ayoze Perez would be the club’s top scorer come the end of the season, they would have called you mad.
The Spaniard might have been a regular among the starting XI but that did not mean that he was appreciated by the supporters, who, quite rightfully, were left questioning what he brought to the side after a quiet first half of the season.
Like so many of his team mates though, he upped his game in 2018 – and the change for Perez was quite exceptional.
It was clear to see he rediscovered the confidence the keep the ball at his feet as if it were glued there, and while by no means a natural centre forward, he showed the attacking nous to pull off some brilliant – and important – goals for the Magpies.
His highlight has to be the audacious chip over Kasper Schmeichel in the 2-1 victory over Leicester – joining Phillipe Albert on the two-man list of Newcastle stars to chip over a Schmeichel.
Click below for Newcastle’s player of the season – a man all fans adore.