After another scintillating display at the weekend, Georginio Wijnaldum is staking a serious claim in becoming Newcastle United’s most prolific midfield maestro since the days of Robert Lee and Gary Speed. With his goal against Liverpool lifting his Premier League tally to seven, Wijnaldum needs just two more strikes to equal Lee’s United record for goals in a season as a midfielder in a Newcastle shirt.
Georginio Wijnaldum: Midfield Maestro
In 1994/95, Lee notched nine league goals, while in 1999/2000 Welsh legend Speed recorded the same number of league goals, and with more than half of the season to go, Wijnaldum is on course to better that total and reach double figures. If it weren’t for the Premier League’s dubious goals panel, Wijnaldum may already be on eight for the season but the opening goal of the Newcastle vs Liverpool fixture has been ‘awarded’ to Reds defender Martin Skrtel after the Dutchman’s effort deflected into the net.
The midfield maestro has been electric for United this season, and has been somewhat of a bright spark in a team of dismal performances. Scoring a well-taken header on his Premier League debut against Southampton, before netting one against champions Chelsea and a spectacular four against Norwich City, Wijnaldum certainly announced himself on the Premier League scene in style.
It is not just the former PSV captain’s goalscoring exploits that have attracted praise from the terraces, it is his ability to dictate play and to regulate the tempo of the game. Skipping past opposition players with pace while retaining balance and possession, Gini is now revered as one of the season’s early stand-out performers, and has somewhat carried Newcastle United, being directly involved in 56% of their goals so far this season. It is plain to see that he is a very influential player, and his ability to find space in and around the box before darting past the opposition is second to none.
Surprisingly, however, this has been a recurring theme during Wijnaldum’s career. In 220 Eredivisie appearances, the 25-year-old amassed 64 goals, a remarkable number for a midfielder, and this season’s fixture against Norwich wasn’t the first time the Dutchman scored four in one game. That feat was achieved in 2011 whilst playing for Feyenoord against FC Groningen, where he dispatched two penalties as well as two goals from open play to become a household name in the Eredivisie and earn a move to top club PSV.
Newcastle’s season could either be defined or destroyed by the influence of Wijnaldum. An injury could condemn Newcastle to an even tougher task to fend off relegation as their key source of goals and creativity would be out of action. On the other hand, a fully fit Wijnaldum continuing with his current form could potentially be the catalyst for a United revival. Either scenario relies heavily on the fitness and performances of the little ‘Ginius’.
After winning the Dutch title last year, it could be easy to draw conclusions that Wijnaldum would not be happy fighting for Newcastle’s Premier League status week-in week-out, yet the famous grin is ever-present and Gini insists he is enjoying life on Tyneside, stating that the quality of the opposition is like playing in the Champions League every week. That is encouraging for Newcastle fans to hear, but the lure of Champions League football may prove too lucrative in the summer if Wijnaldum keeps up his present goalscoring habits.
