JOSELU will attempt to prove Stoke City made a mistake by letting him go when he lines up against his former employers tomorrow – and is adamant it would be wrong to write him off just because he only cost £5m.

The Spaniard has dislodged Dwight Gayle from Newcastle United’s starting line-up since moving from the Britannia Stadium, and having impressed in the recent wins over West Ham and Swansea, is expected to retain his place in tomorrow’s side.

His time with Stoke did not go to plan, as he only managed four goals in 22 Premier League appearances after a £5.75m move from Hannover. He spent the whole of last season on loan at Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna, and freely admits he was frustrated at not getting much of a chance to impress with the Potters.

With his standing having diminished, he joined Newcastle for just £5m this summer at a time when strikers in the Championship were moving for almost triple that amount.

Most Newcastle supporters were relatively underwhelmed by his arrival, but his performances in the last two games have resulted in a rapid re-evaluation of his qualities, and the 27-year-old insists it is important to look past his price tag when assessing his worth.

“Newcastle bought me, and now I am trying to play well and trying to help the club win games,” said Joselu, who scored his first Magpies goal in the club’s last home game against West Ham. “It doesn’t matter if I cost £5m, £6m or £25m – the transfer market is crazy now. I don’t care about that.

“I’m just hoping for an opportunity now. I think I have played well, and I am trying to work hard every week to make sure I can be on the pitch and try to score goals to help the club.”

Rafael Benitez will be back in the dug-out tomorrow after sitting out last weekend’s win at Swansea following surgery to cure an infection that emerged after a hernia operation.

The Spaniard has presided over first-team training this week, and with no sign of any ill-effects from his lay off, will take charge of a pre-match press conference this afternoon.

He was frustrated at Newcastle’s lack of activity in the final days of the transfer window, but was previously extremely satisfied to have landed Joselu for a cut-price fee.

The striker first caught Benitez’s attention when he progressed through the youth ranks at Celta Vigo and Real Madrid, and the Newcastle boss clearly feels there is plenty of untapped potential that was not fully exploited at Stoke. Mark Hughes didn’t rate Joselu particularly highly, so Benitez’s faith has been greatly appreciated.

“Rafa is a big manager in the world of football,” said Joselu. “When he talks about you and says he has followed you, it’s nice to know. I am very happy to be working with him.

“Rafa told me to sign here, he told me many good things about the club, the city, everything. I didn’t have to think too much about it. I signed quickly and I am pleased I am here.”

Tomorrow’s game will be the first time Joselu has lined up against Stoke since he left the Potteries, but while he played in some pre-season games for his former employers earlier this summer, he insists it will not be a strange experience to line up against his recent colleagues.

And unlike some strikers, who refuse to celebrate against their former clubs, he fully expects his emotions to take over if he finds the back of the net for a second home game in a row.

“I am a striker, and I am always happy when I score,” said Joselu. “Emotion is inside every striker – all strikers will say the same thing.

“It won’t be strange because I am very focused on Newcastle, my mind is only here. It’s my team from the last two years, and I know the players and staff, but it’s over. Now I think only of Newcastle, and we need to win this game for our fans.”