Jeff Hendrick has 'all the traits of a modern day player' on the field - but Steve Bruce has revealed the midfielder 'shied away' when Newcastle United wanted to 'parade' the club's new signings.
The Ireland international had a debut to remember on the right wing against West Ham on Saturday and scored and assisted a goal in a single Premier League game for the first time in his career.
It was Hendrick's first top-flight appearance in 189 days but, tellingly, he played a full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win at the London Stadium.
Hendrick will just be focused on building on his first display in a black-and-white shirt and the 28-year-old is a level-headed, reserved figure off the field.
Indeed, having had his own virtual unveiling press conference last month, Hendrick decided against joining Bruce, Callum Wilson, Jamal Lewis and Ryan Fraser for a photocall last week.
"I think that's his nature - he doesn't look for it," Bruce told reporters on a Zoom call. "For example, last week, we paraded the three. We wanted to parade the four and Jeff sort of shied away from it. He didn't want to.
"He quietly gets on with his work. He caught my eye when he was at Derby years ago and with what he had done at Burnley over the last four years.
"He's a proven Premier League player, who has got all the modern attributes, who can score a goal. It was funny when I spoke to Mick McCarthy, he said he's got a really powerful shot on him and he should score more for what he's got.
"He's got all the traits of a modern day player - he's big, he's athletic, he handles the ball well - and we're delighted to have got him. I'm not going to deny that we were probably in for him last March so all that hard work that we put in came to fruition."
Hendrick will certainly be an important figure for Newcastle this season, but a number of players face a battle to make Bruce's 25-man Premier League squad.
Bruce will submit his squad list when the transfer window closes next month and, as it stands, there are 25 outfield players battling it out for 22 slots.
Although Matty Longstaff will not have to be formally registered, as he is under the age of 21, there is stiff competition for places right now. So much so, DeAndre Yedlin was not even named on the bench against West Ham.
"At the moment, I've got three right-backs so I will look at that situation," Bruce added. "I like DeAndre. He's done nothing wrong since I've been here but we'll look at the situation. To have three right-backs is not that healthy.
"Muto has gone off to Eibar. Flo went to Spain. He didn't play last year.
"I remember having a conversation with [Henri] Saivet last year and Jack Colback, who didn't make the 22. They were just not taking part in anything, which was unhealthy for them, unhealthy for us and I understand that a player needs to play after a certain while.
"I will be having conversations. I think it's no secret that Achraf Lazaar, Rolando Aarons, Henri Saivet and Muto need to go and find a new club and get their careers up and moving again so we will see what happens in that department."
