CITY SPECIAL: Brilliant best is still yet to come for KDB

WHEN Rodri stopped to speak to a small group of reporters in the foyer at St James' Park on Saturday, just a few yards short of the City team bus, it was the match officials he had in his sights.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

A game that had ended in delirium for the Blues didn't stop the frustrations from spewing out.

The Spanish midfielder was annoyed at the inconsistency of referee Chris Kavanagh, bemused at his own disciplinary record this season, riled by Newcastle's time-wasting and generally confused about the rules of the game at the moment.

But in amongst articulating those feelings, he did open up on the game. On the importance of that moment for Oscar Bobb, the value of wins like this on the road, the sense of a team playing well and on Kevin de Bruyne's majestic, gamechanging return.

City were behind when De Bruyne came on with 21 minutes to go and triumphant when they left the pitch.

The Belgian turned the tide, scoring a brilliant equaliser and registering a sublime assist for Bobb.

In barely 40 minutes of Premier League football, half with his hamstring about to snap and half with it only recently pieced back together,

he has one goal and two assists.