Garth Crooks has heaped praise on transformed Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez after he won over the watching Alan Shearer.
The 25-year-old hit a hat trick against Southampton on Saturday evening as the Toon Army romped to a 3-1 victory, all but ensuring their Premier League survival.
And Crooks was more than impressed with Perez’s match winning turn, naming him in his team of the week.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “What a way to get your ninth, 10th and 11th league goals of the season; playing against Southampton in front of a packed St James’ Park and with Alan Shearer watching in the Match of the Day studio.
“I don’t think it gets better than that for Ayoze Perez.
“The Spaniard has found hitting the back of the next on a regular basis a bit of a challenge in the past but saved his best for Shearer to observe. Life is nothing if it’s not about timing.”
OPINION
Perez was sublime on Saturday. The Spaniard looked as if he could have beaten the Saints on his own, and to be fair to the lad, there were times when he did. All three finishes showed a level of class and composure that not many would have credited him with at the start of the season, but Perez is slowly transforming into a real star turn, and with every passing week it seems as if he bursts further and further out of his chrysalis. Bearing in mind he cost just £1.5 million back in 2014, he has had a fantastic career on Tyneside, and he must surely be regarded as one of the Magpies’ finest bargain swoops of all time. Ever since Miguel Almiron and Salomon Rondon arrived at St. James’ Park he has looked like a new player, and Toon fans will just be hoping and praying that the Three Amigos, as they are affectionately known, are all still there come next term.