OPINION
Football is mad sometimes. You can spend your whole life following it, scrutinising the details, coming to terms with the ins and outs of every minutiae, and it will still, somehow, find a way to shock and dumbfound you every once in a while.
Ask Newcastle United fans. Many of them must have been left rubbing their eyes in disbelief and double-taking at the news that Achraf Lazaar put in a stunning performance on his Sheffield Wednesday debut yesterday.
The Moroccan left-back was all but useless during his time at St. James’ Park, making just 10 first team appearances, and even struggling to get into the reserves by the time that he was shipped out on loan at the end of last month.
Now, however, he appears to have won over legions of Wednesday fans on his first outing, with Sheffield Star columnist Laura Jones describing it as “one of the best home debuts [she] has ever witnessed”.
Can we have a standing ovation for Achraf Lazaar for one of the best home debuts I've ever witnessed?#SWFC
— Laura Lawrence ?? (@YICETOR) February 23, 2019
It really does beg the question what went wrong on Tyneside for the 27-year-old, and from a Newcastle fan’s point of view, is there any way that he can replicate his sudden upturn in fortunes in the north east?
Whether Lazaar has just pulled off a fluke in front of his new supporters and will get back to his usual self next week remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain, if he continues to play like he did yesterday, he will be welcomed back by Newcastle fans with open arms.
Whether Rafael Benitez sees a future for the Moroccan is another matter entirely.