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FORMER Tottenham flop Paulinho is making up for lost time on his return to China with Guangzhou Evergrande.

Following two years with the Chinese club after leaving Spurs in 2015, the Brazilian joined Barcelona in 2017 and helped the Catalan outfit to the domestic double.

 Paulinho has eight goals in eight games since rejoining the Chinese side
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Paulinho has eight goals in eight games since rejoining the Chinese sideCredit: Getty - Contributor

But his love affair with China continued and he returned this July on a one-year loan deal with the option of making it permanent after 12 months.

Judging by current performances, the club will be looking to do just that.

Since returning to the Chinese Super League side Paulinho, 30, has bagged himself eight goals in eight appearances and five assists.

The latest on those came on Saturday as Evergrande beat Shandong Luneng 4-1 with Paulinho netting his side’s final goal in the 74th minute.

 His most recent goal came in Guangzhou Evergrande's 4-1 win over Shandong Luneng
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His most recent goal came in Guangzhou Evergrande's 4-1 win over Shandong LunengCredit: Getty - Contributor
 His run of form comes after his World Cup exploits with Brazil
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His run of form comes after his World Cup exploits with BrazilCredit: AFP or licensors
 It's a difference in form compared to his struggles at Tottenham
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It's a difference in form compared to his struggles at TottenhamCredit: Getty - Contributor

That result leaves Paulinho’s side third in the table, three points behind leaders Beijing Guoan, with ten games left of the season.

Paulinho is far from the top scorer in the championship with that honour currently going to Wu Lei of second-placed Shanghai East Asia.

The Brazilian, who played for his country at this summer’s World Cup, moved to Tottenham for £17million in 2013 from Corinthians.

But he failed to leave his mark and moved to China in June 2015 for £9.9million.

On-loan Barcelona midfielder Paulinho scores his first goal since his Chinese Super League return in a one-sided contest
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