Newcastle 1 Albion 1

Julio Enciso was as good in Albion’s last away game this season as he was in their first.

It was what happened in between which will leave him trying to make up for lost time.

Handed the No.10 role in the absence of Joao Pedro, the Paraguayan prospect caused Newcastle all sorts of problems.

Albion should have used his work to add to the lead given them by Joel Veltman’s close-range strike.

Instead, Sean Longstaff equalised seconds from the break and the Seagulls had to show a pleasing amount of defensive strength to get their reward.

The point, elements of the team display and some of the individual performances were all enough to give a positive feel both for the last two home games and going towards next season.

This campaign cannot be allowed to fizzle out over the next few days and the signs to that end have been good over the past two matches.

Albion fans want to beat Chelsea and want to make sure they finish above resurgent Crystal Palace.

Roberto De Zerbi wants a top-half finish and the club’s long-term target is built around being a top-ten team.

All of which points to a big night on Wednesday – when all the above targets would be met with the right result.

Enciso’s season has been Albion’s to a degree – but even more so.

He sparkled in that first away game, at Wolves, with superb passes to set up two goals for Solly March in a 4-1 win.

Then came the news of a knee injury and he was undergoing and recovering from surgery as Albion played in the Europa League.

There was the excitement of coming back from injury – about the time it seemed the treatment room was emptying.

But coming back from such a long absence was not easy and he has probably looked too keen to make an impact when we have seen him in short measures.

The body has needed time to adjust to those weeks away from the action.

Here, he helped Albion take the fight to a confident home side, un-nerving a raucous and upbeat Toon crowd.

Enciso set the tone when he sold a brilliant dummy early on to beat his man, bringing a few gasps even from home fans.

He was involved in the move which brought the corner from which Danny Welbeck won the first header and Veltman forced the ball home.

There were some more thrilling moments.

While the accusation might be that Enciso tries to do too much on his own, that was not the case here.

In fact, his best moment was a potential assist.

After a patient passing move which invited Newcastle players out of their shape, the ball arrived at Enciso, who made ground, looked up and played a superb diagonal through ball.

Welbeck’s touch was not enough to nudge the ball past the oncoming Martin Dubravka.

Had he been successful, they might have had to ask Kauro Mitoma to hand back his goal of the season award, secured on that golden afternoon at Molineux.

De Zerbi is excited about what Enciso can offer next season and there are several players who can benefit from challenges this term.

One misgiving on Tyneside was that Albion should have made more of some very promising situations they worked for themselves in what De Zerbi often refers to as the last 20 metres.

They might have run away with this game in the first half in the way they did early in the second period in the Black Country when Enciso shone.

But there were others who showed good signs for next season.

Bart Verbruggen was not forced into heroics but he has shown great improvement with the ball at his feet and was assured here.

And the real Adam Webster has suddenly re-appeared.

He was part of resolute defensive performance in the second half as Newcastle chased a winner.

Toon were throwing on big names like Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes and Joelinton.

Albion sent on rookie Benicio Baker-Boaitey and the relatively inexperienced Odel Offiah to see the job through.

The way they stood up to the challenge was a source of pride for De Zerbi, who said: “We would like to finish the season in the first ten places.

“All the problems we this season, it (top ten) is a great result.

“It is important the point, especially in this stadium.

“I think St James’ Park is the best stadium in the Premier League.

“I have twice been in this stadium and both times it was an incredible atmosphere.”

Now for Chelsea and Manchester United.

There is still a bit to play for, whatever your perspective.

And Enciso has not scored yet this season.

That might be worth remembering.

Newcastle: Dubravka; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall (Trippier 90+2); Longstaff (Joelinton 68), Guimaraes, Anderson; J. Murphy (Almiron 68), Isak (Barnes 68), Gordon. Unused subs: Pope, Dummett, A. Murphy, White, Ritchie.

Goal: Longstaff 45+5.

Yellow card: Hall 79, Barnes 88, Almiron 90+3.

Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman (Lamptey 40), Webster, Dunk, Igor; Gilmour (Baleba 87), Gross; Buonanotte (Baker-Boaitey 67), Enciso (Moder 67), Adingra (Offiah 87); Welbeck. Unused subs: Steele, Lallana, O’Mahony, Ansu Fati.

Goal: Veltman 18.

Yellow card: Gilmour 45+4, Enciso 54, Welbeck 77, Baker-Boaitey 90+5.

Referee: Darren England.

VAR: Andy Madley.