Newcastle United cast-off Joselu has dream debut with Alaves

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Not many Newcastle United fans would have been disappointed to see Joselu leave the club this summer. The Spanish striker was a surprise signing from Stoke City back in 2017. According to the BBC, the Magpies paid £5 million for the player who had struggled at the Britannia Stadium.

But he was never a consistent goalscorer at St James’ Park. In 52 games for the club, he scored just seven goals. His last effort came in an FA Cup replay victory over Blackburn Rovers in January and he did not play a league game for the club after February. 

So this summer he was allowed to join Deportivo Alaves of La Liga. The Basque side paid just £1.7 million for the player, according to Football Espana, and no Newcastle fan was losing sleep over the idea. 

However, he has started life at his new club with a bang. Joselu scored the winning goal for Alaves in their opening game of the Spanish season against Levante. His near-post header had already crept beyond the line before defender Guillermo Maripan eventually bundled it home. 

Newcastle, meanwhile, are two games into the season and have managed a single goal.

But it is perhaps worth remembering that Joselu scored on the opening day of the Premier League last season and it did not exactly lead to a flourishing campaign.