A lot of Newcastle United fans have responded to a tweet by Martin Hardy asking what has happened to Javier Manquillo.
There have been numerous responses and reasons suggested as to why the Spaniard is performing so well for the Toon at the moment.
Manquillo, who is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, started the season behind Emil Krafth and then DeAndre Yedlin, but in recent weeks he has emerged as Steve Bruce’s number one choice for the right-wing-back role after turning in a number of stellar displays.
Is Javier Manquillo Newcastle's best right-back?
Yes, he is undroppable at the moment
No, prefer any of the other two
The performances of Manquillo have delighted many Newcastle fans, but they can’t decide why he is playing so well.
Some think that it is because he is playing for a new contract.
Can someone explain what’s happened to Javier Manquillo?…
— Martin Hardy (@mhardysport) December 21, 2019
Contract expiration approaching? (Cynical, I know)
— Marc Duffy (@MarcSDuffy) December 22, 2019
Playing for new contract or bigger move it’s not rocket science
— Guy Robinson (@Robinson27) December 21, 2019
Other Toon supporters think that Bruce is getting the best out of him.
Turned into a player hasn’t he, Rafa must have been holding him back! ?
— JJ Fletcher (@JJFletcher7) December 21, 2019
Bruce has got him playing better. That’s a fact. Rafa hardly played him and preferred Yedlin. What does that tell you? Shelvey is playing better under Bruce too.
— stevenufc (@stevenufc3) December 21, 2019
What’s shocked me, perhaps more so than his overall improvement, is *why* he’s improved so much under Bruce, as opposed to his compatriot, Rafa Benitez. Bizarre.
— Jonny Smith (@hawaythen) December 21, 2019
Working with a world class manager in Stevie Bruce ??
— ian bell (@ianb36) December 22, 2019
Some Magpies fans, though, believe that Manquillo was playing well last season, and he was just never noticed.
Considering he was one of our best players the 2nd half of last season and was harshly dropped by Bruce for no reason AND he went and bought Krafth for no reason. Surely you could answer that question yourself.
— The Gallowgate End (@gallowgatenufc1) December 21, 2019
He played decent last season too. Just wasnt appreciated ,but today ??
— the realist (@howay51) December 21, 2019
He’s been brilliant whenever called upon since around march time
— Joe (@As_it_is10) December 22, 2019
What do we think?
The former Sunderland man only has six months remaining on his deal, and he has said that he would like to stay on Tyneside, so he could be upping his performances to earn that new contract.
However, if you look at how Manquillo did last season, it is clear that he has been playing well for most of 2019.
Rafael Benitez dropped DeAndre Yedlin in April after a series of poor displays and Manquillo came in and played in five wins as the Toon finished the season strongly.
The 25-year-old was initially played as left-back by Benitez, and he struggled in that position.
However, since moving back over to the right, Manquillo has turned his Newcastle career around and is now getting the plaudits that he deserves.