Eriksen makes emotional return but ten-man Brentford beaten by Newcastle

But it was Newcastle supporters who enjoyed more cheers after beating Brentford 2-0 to continue their resurgence under Eddie Howe.

Goals from a revitalised Joelinton and former Arsenal man Joe Willock sealed a victory that stretched the Magpies' unbeaten run to seven games, against a Bees side that played the majority of the match with ten men following Josh Dasilva's sending off for a horror challenge in the first-half.

All eyes were on Eriksen, though, after manager Thomas Frank declared earlier in the week that his fellow Dane was ready to make his Premier League comeback.

The 30-year-old joined the Bees in January on a short-term deal until the end of the season, as he looked to return to the pitch eight months after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.

Forced to leave Inter Milan in December due to Italian law that prohibits playing with an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator), Eriksen spent months training in Switzerland and former club Ajax as he looked to return to action.

Brentford have been careful not to rush him back and have played him in two friendly games, where he made three assists in over two hours of football, but was deemed ready for his full Premier League return on Saturday in a crucial clash against Newcastle.

The Denmark international - who is aiming to return to their squad for the World Cup - was named on the bench and it was a moment filled with emotion as he replaced Mathias Jansen in the 52nd minute and entered the pitch for the first time in a competitive game since his collapse last summer.

Newcastle fans joined the Brentford faithful in their cheers and applause for the player, who Frank admitted was easily the club's biggest signing in their history.

But his debut was not the dream he, Brentford fans and even neutral supporters - particularly at his former club Tottenham - were hoping for, with Brentford already 2-0 down and well beaten.

Much has been made of Newcastle's January spending spree following their Saudi-backed takeover, with Howe's new-look team steadily climbing out of their Premier League relegation battle and towards the relative security of mid-table.

But it was two of their club's previous signings that made the difference here, with Joelinton opening the scoring with a towering header and Joe Willock finishing off a sweeping move with a lovely side-footed finish in the first-half.

Brazilian flags were out across the away end as the Toon Army celebrated a goal from Joelinton, the formerly flopped record-signing who has rebuilt his career as a central midfielder this season.

Brentford's task of securing a crucial win for their own relegation battle was made all the harder when they were reduced to ten men, with Josh Dasilva shown a straight red after a VAR review on his shocking challenge on Matt Targett.

Dasilva had only just returned from injury to give the Bees a timely boost, but they will now be without the talented midfielder for another three games.

There was some good news for Frank, though, as the manager welcomed star striker Ivan Toney back from injury - the frontman coming off the bench in the second-half against his former club to make his return after three games out.

But ultimately it was a bad day for the Bees, who have now only taken one point from their last eight games and slide down to 15th, just four points above the drop zone.

It didn't help that relegation rivals Watford and Burnley both got a point, and Newcastle got three, although Frank's side do have two games in hand.