Two Newcastle United stars included in WhoScored?'s stats-driven Team of the Week selection
We always like to see former players give our lads recognition when they select their Team of the Week, especially when it's Alan Shearer being accused of Newcastle United bias and soaking up the rival tears.
However, when it comes to WhoScored? Team Of The Week, it feels like more of an achievement to have our lads selected, as it's all purely based on stats.
WhoScored? tracks all the player stats from every game to create a score out of 10, and only the players with the highest rating for their position are chosen for the Team of the Week.
This week, after their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Newcastle have two representatives in the Team of the Week.
Lewis Miley and Malick Thiaw made it into WhoScored?'s Team Of The Week
Malick Thiaw made it into Troy Deeney's TotW with the BBC pundit explaining that a goal from a defender is always likely to see them selected, and that has also been the case for WhoScored?
The German defender had a good game overall for Newcastle, but the fact that he got himself on the scoresheet is practically worth an extra point alone. He picked up a rating of 9.26 with only Brentford's hat-trick hero Igor Thaigo receiving a higher score all weekend.
Lewis Miley was WhoScored?'s other Toon inclusion and rightly so. The 19-year-old was incredible once again and completed 100% of his attempted passes while also chalking up an assist. Did we mention that he's playing out of position, too?
Newcastle need to build on this confidence in January
That's two wins in a row in the Premier League for Newcastle United, for only the second time this season. With the games coming thick and fast this month, we need to keep that confidence up, which should also keep energy high.
Leeds United played out a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday and probably should have won. The fact that they didn't, though, may play into Newcastle's hands as they take on Leeds on Wednesday night at St James' Park.
We only managed a 0-0 draw at Elland Road at the start of the season, but Leeds are a side we should be beating if we're gunning for Europe again.
