Incredible Thiaw could be bargain of season

NEWCASTLE United's 2-1 win over Manchester City breathed fresh life into their Premier League season and produced a number of top performances to gush over.

- By SEAN MCCORMICK Newcastle United writer

Malick Thiaw clears the ball ahead of Man City's Erling Haaland

Harvey Barnes’ brace grabbed the headlines, the impact from the return of fullbacks Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall was obvious, while the midfield three produced their best collective display of the season.

But the performance of Malick Thiaw was perhaps the pick of the lot as he kept the world’s best forward in Erling Haaland quiet.

Thiaw’s impact since joining from AC Milan in the summer has been incredible and with each passing performance, the £34.6million the Magpies paid to sign him is looking increasingly like a bargain.

The German international thwarted Haaland on a number of occasions and his last-gasp tackle in the second half, when the Norway international was about to shoot in the Newcastle box, was cheered like a goal inside St James’ Park.