Troy Deeney declares ‘Is there a more dominant midfielder in the Premier League? I’ll wait’

Troy Deeney has picked his best 12 performers from the weekend action.

The Premier League team of the week (and manager) that have most impressed him.

Included in his dozen choices are two from Newcastle United.

These NUFC players with a sizeable contribution to the 3-1 victory over Burnley.

United getting what felt like an essential win, as they look to now follow up in 2026 with further progress up the table.

Troy Deeney explains why he has picked out Joelinton and Yoane Wissa for his Premier League team of the week and then the full eleven (twelve) are listed below:

Joelinton (Newcastle United)

“Is there a more dominant midfielder in the Premier League? I’ll wait. 6ft 4in, can run all over you, can fight with you but also can do what he did against Burnley and score a goal after two minutes that was worthy of winning any game.”

Joelinton had been nursing a groin issue and Eddie Howe forced to leave him out of the team for a number of matches. That paid dividends at Turf Moor as the Newcastle midfielder looked something close to what we know he is capable of.

With the wider injury issues he has had in recent years, it is a fine balancing act as to just how much Eddie Howe asks Joelinton to start. Hopefully we will see Joelinton able to both keep up that kind of level of performance he showed against Burnley AND able to play regularly without having further injury issues.

Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United)

“First goal in two games. He’s had a tough start since he got in to Newcastle after being injured but as a spark, he has a willingness to work for his team and an infectious personality that makes everybody else run if he is running. He’s always smiling so that’s why he gets in the team.”

One thing for sure, Yoane Wissa is showing us what we have been missing.

A totally different type of striker to Nick Woltemade and one who obviously was brought in to be the direct replacement for Alexander Isak, the pace to run in behind and be the fox in the box as well. Big Nick likes to drop deeper and help build up play and create.

Not sure what is the point of the ‘First goal in two games’ comment? Yoane Wissa had only played 71 minutes in four previous Premier League sub appearances for Newcastle and that was his first PL start, taking less than seven minutes to score at Turf Moor.

Wissa has now started two matches for Newcastle United and both times scored in the opening ten minutes of those games, having opened the scoring in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Fulham.

If the former Brentford striker can now play regularly, he will regularly score for Newcastle United.

Troy Deeney Premier League team of the week:

Robin Roefs (Sunderland)

Trai Hume (Sunderland)

Jaka Bijol (Leeds)

Nathan Collins (Brentford)

Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)

James Garner (Everton)

Joelinton (Newcastle United)

David Brooks (Bournemouth)

Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)

Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United)

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)

Manager:

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)