Jonas Gutierrez opens up about the end of his Newcastle United career including that goal against West Ham

Newcastle United fans of a certain age will never forget what Jonas Gutierrez went through while at the club.

Diagnosed with testicular cancer, Gutierrez returned to Argentina for treatment while obviously taking an extended leave of absence from the club.

However, given that Newcastle United was under the thumb of Mike Ashley at the time, the heartless man with nothing but money on his mind, the club tried to get Jonas to leave after his diagnosis.

Fortunately, that didn't happen, and when the Argentine winger returned to fitness it was because of him that Newcastle remained in the Premier League.

Jonas Gutierrez carved his name into the Newcastle United history books

It was an assist followed by a goal from Jonas that sealed a 2-0 win over West Ham on the final day of the 2014/15 season that ensured the Magpies beat the drop and fans were absolutely over the moon, not just because it saved the club from another relegation, but because of who it was who saved us after everything he'd been through.

Speaking on the Adopted Geordies podcast, Gutierrez was very candid about those last few months at the club, the cancer battle and the euphoria of becoming a Geordie hero.

“To me, there are two things. It was something so sad because it was my last game. I knew that it could be. For me, it was so sad because if I watch it back it was my last game but if I said there was one game that had to be my last game in Newcastle, it would have to be something like that because it was so special. We had been battling against relegation, it was the last game of the season, at home, with 52,000 Geordies making noise. That was unbelievable, like always.

“Then I get the assist for the first goal and get the second one, it was something special. When we finish the game and I speak to all of the stadium in the middle of the park, it was something that is always in my memories. I think it’s the best moment in my career. (The celebration) was something inside and I wanted to take it out. I think it wasn’t the best time.

“The first time before I have the chemotherapy, things that Newcastle fans know, that they (the club) told me to go to another club. That was something hard for me because in that moment when I have first the operation the only things that I want to do is to be back in Newcastle and to be there in the city with my teammates. Well, they decide to take me another place. That was, it was hard. But I was thinking that I'm going to be back strong and nothing changed my mind. So, but it was a hard, hard thing to happen to me.”

Mike Ashley released several players that season delivering the news via text message

Of course, Mike Ashley wasn't done with being a dick to Jonas and he was told that he wasn't going to be kept on at the club via text message.

He wasn't the only one who got their marching orders in that manner, but after everything he'd been through and what he did upon his return, fans were absolutely furious.

It's something that will never be forgotten by the fans and why nothing anybody says to convince us otherwise, we will always believe that Mike Ashley is human garbage.