Newcastle United 2021/22 season ratings: Guimaraes 9, Joelinton 8, Willock 5

A season of two halves for Magpies as change of owners and manager helps team escape relegation

NEWCASTLE END OF SEASON RATINGS: (Managers) Eddie Howe: 9. Took over in November with the team in bottom three and without a win from 11 games. Finished the season 11th with 13 wins. Bought well in January, backed by the club's new owners, and revitalised a number players already at the club, including the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Joelinton and Ryan Fraser. PA

Steve Bruce: 2. Allowed to bring in just one player by then owner Mike Ashley during the summer when he clearly wanted and needed more. Had long lost the backing of fans and left soon after the new Saudi-backed owners took over club. His final game - Bruce's 1,000th match as a manager - was a 3-2 defeat at home to Spurs - with team second bottom and without a win from eight games. Reuters

(Goalkeepers) Martin Dubravka 7. Missed the start of the season due to injury and his return to the team in November was much needed as the two other keepers had failed to convince in his absence. Fine shot-stopper but culpable for a few poor goals and will be a surprise if 33-year-old is still No 1 at start of next campaign. Reuters

Karl Darlow: 4. Capable of pulling off superb saves but guilty of some basic errors (see Brentford home) and doesn't command his area or look confident on crosses. Lost his place soon after Howe's arrival and could be heading for exit this summer. Getty

Freddie Woodman: 3. Has shone brightly for England youth teams and on loan at second-tier Swansea City but struggled on step up to top-flight level, highlighted by an error-strewn display in the 4-1 defeat at Manchester United. Sent out on loan to Bournemouth where he played just one FA Cup game. Reuters

(Defenders) Ciaran Clark: 4. His most important contribution to the season was a disastrous sending off against Norwich after nine minutes, resulting in Joelinton being shifted into a midfield role that has relaunched the Brazilian's career. Clark would start only one more game that season - a 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City. Reuters

Paul Dummett: 5. Barely played due to injury - making only three appearances - but still rewarded with one-year contract extension by Howe who described the Geordie full-back as "a consummate professional". EPA

Fabian Schar: 8. One of a number of players revitalised under Howe. Stylish Swiss defender had fallen out of favour with Bruce but became first-choice under Howe and has just been handed new two-year deal. EPA

Jamaal Lascelles: 6. Club captain has fallen down the pecking order since the January arrival of Dan Burn and his time at the club could well be up this summer. No longer the commanding figure of the Rafa Benitez era and his lack of pace and mobility a problem in the Premier League - but attitude and commitment can not be faulted. Getty

Matt Ritchie: 5. A winger forced to play as full-back or wingback due to lack of options. Not good enough defensively but tireless runner still capable of whipping in dangerous crosses. Probably another whose time at club has run its course. Reuters

Jamal Lewis: 4. An injury-wrecked campaign for the left-back who was left out of the 25-man Premier League squad in January due to the new arrivals but Howe insists the former Norwich man will get a chance to prove himself in pre-season. AP

Matt Targett: 8. Left-back proved a vital signing on loan from Aston Villa in a position where Newcastle were desperately short. Solid defensively, good pushing forward and his crossing from out wide a useful weapon to have - would be a surprise if club do not agree to turn move into permanent £15m deal. PA

Kieran Trippier: 8. A statement signing from Atletico Madrid in January who slotted seamlessly into the team and looks set to take over from Lascelles as club captain. Dead-ball skills are a huge asset - as shown by his superb free-kick against Everton - and is already a huge fan favourite despite breaking his foot in February that ruled him out until May. Getty

Emil Krafth: 7. Swedish defender has looked a squad player, at best, since his arrival in 2019 but really stepped up to the plate after Trippier's injury in February, producing by far and away his best spell in the team. Getty

Federico Fernandez: 5. Another defender whose season has been decimated by injury. The veteran Argentine started only five league games and will likely be leaving this summer. PA

Javier Manquillo: 6. Spanish defender's versatility has been a bonus and has done a job playing either full-back position, although injuries have restricted the 28-year-old to 15 league starts. PA

Dan Burn: 8. The 1.98m tall January signing from Brighton has been a revelation at centre-half, arguably more comfortable on the ground than in the air, despite his height. Described joining his boyhood club as a "risk" that he "was never going to turn down" and his committed performances have made him hugely popular with fans. AFP

(Midfielders) Joelinton: 8. A remarkable transformation from striker who couldn't score to marauding box-to-box midfielder. A powerhouse in the middle of the park whose tireless running has made him a cult hero with fans and helped seal the club's Player of the Year award. Brazilian even chipped in with two goals in the April win at Norwich. EPA

Jonjo Shelvey: 7. Howe made it clear from Day 1 how much he rates the midfielder and Shelvey has clearly relished the belief the manager has in him. Passing ability has never been in doubt but even concerns about his lack of mobility seem to have been dispelled since the turn of the year. Free-kick winner against Leeds in January kick-started team's revival. Reuters

Isaac Hayden: 5. Midfielder admitted he was "bitterly disappointed" to be left out of the 25-man squad in January with injuries severely restricting the former Arsenal man's contributions. Solid presence at anchorman but looks like his time is up on Tyneside. AP

Ryan Fraser: 7. The free transfer signing from Bournemouth had endured a fairly miserable time since arriving in 2020 but suddenly clicked into gear at the start of the year. The Scottish wideman was a key performer in the team's rise up the table and would rum himself to a standstill such was his effort in some of the games. AFP

Jacob Murphy: 6. Has become an important squad player this season but can be frustrating to watch and has repeatedly shown a lack of composure when through on goal. One injury-time miss at Watford in September left one local radio commentator screaming: "No! Just put it in the net!" and became a viral hit on social media in the north east. AFP

Joe Willock: 5. A hugely disappointing season for the £22m summer signing who had been superb during a loan spell from Arsenal the previous campaign. Willock managed just two goals all season and looked short of confidence throughout. Will be interesting to see whether he can recapture the goalscoring form shown at the start of 2021. AFP

Sean Longstaff: 6. Signs during the last couple of weeks that the local boy might be rediscovering the sort of form that he produced when he first burst on to the scene in the Benitez era. Just signed a new three-year contract and will be looking to kick-on next season. Reuters

Jeff Hendrick: 3. Irish midfielder has never settled since his free transfer arrival in 2020 and was farmed out on loan to second-tier QPR in January. Certain to leave St James' Park this summer. Getty

Bruno Guimaraes: 9. What a player this man looks. A January signing that highlights the club's ambitions. Strong runner, biting in the tackle, superb passing skills and is even chipping in regularly with goals from midfield. The fans love him and should be the heartbeat of this side for years to come. PA

(Attackers) Allan Saint-Maximin: 8. The great enigma. His pace and trickery make him a defender's worst nightmare and is simply unplayable on his day. But also hugely frustrating for teammates and fans alike with his decision-making, final ball and habit of running down blind alleys. The Frenchman has to add consistency to his game if he wants to reach the next level. Getty

Miguel Almiron: 6. The Paraguayan is another frustrating figure at the club. Faultless work ethic, lightning quick but simply not enough goals or assists for an attacker. Showed he can do it with stunning winner against Crystal Palace in April but needs to do it on a far more regular basis. Getty

Callum Wilson: 7. Would be higher mark if not for the injury problems that have blighted his time on Tyneside. Pacy and powerful striker finished as the club's top scorer (with eight goals, bagging a double against Burnley on final day of season) despite missing half the season through injury. If Newcastle can keep him fit, would be nudging the 20-goal mark. PA

Chris Wood: 5. A striker has to be judged on his goals and the £25m January signing from then relegation rivals Burnley simply has not delivered on that front. Two goals is not enough but did provide Newcastle with a much-needed focal point up front in Wilson's absence. AFP

Dwight Gayle: 3. Striker resctricted to cameo appearances for the last few minutes of games. Getty

It has been a season of immense change on and off the pitch for Newcastle United.

At the start of the campaign, hugely unpopular owner Mike Ashley was still in charge, while hugely unpopular manager Steve Bruce remained in the dugout.

By October, Ashley had sold the club to a consortium lead by the Saudi Arabia-backed Public Investment Fund and a month later Bruce had been replaced by former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Newcastle, though, were in dire straights in the Premier League, heading into the new year marooned in the bottom three, having won just once in 19 games.

A hectic January transfer window saw Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Dan Burn, Matty Targett, and Bruno Guimaraes all arrive and the mood on Tyneside was changing quickly.

The likes of Fabian Schar, Jonjo Shelvey and Ryan Fraser would all see their form revitalised under Howe's stewardship, while Joelinton was transformed from laughing stock striker to midfield maestro.

In 2022, Newcastle picked up 38 points – a haul beaten by only three sides in Liverpool (51) Manchester City (43), and Tottenham Hotspur (41) – and would finish the season in 11th place.

After the final day win at Burnley, Howe said: “It was very important for me that we finished in the way we have been playing for the majority of the second half of the season.

“We set very high standards and have a very good collective mentality. This was always going to be a very difficult match, not a technically pure match but we scored some good goals.”

And as for the summer transfer plans of the hugely ambitious club, Howe added: “We have an unbelievable spirit and mentality about the group and I definitely don’t want to break that.

“That's my biggest challenge – to harness and keep all the good aspects of the second half of the season as well as evolving and improving with new additions.”

In the gallery above, you can see the Newcastle player ratings for the 2021/22 season. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.