Newcastle travel to face Chelsea on Monday night and will be without Callum Wilson after he picked up an ankle injury in the Magpies’ 3-2 win over Southampton last week.
That means Steve Bruce will likely be forced into naming Joelinton as his replacement at Stamford Bridge – a player who has been out of form and out of favour in recent weeks.
The 24-year-old has made 22 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and supplying three assists. However, he has netted only once in the Premier League and hasn’t found the back of the net since November, so he hasn’t a prolific option for Bruce. [Transfermarkt]
Unfortunately, the Newcastle boss isn’t blessed with a natural goalscorer to call upon in Wilson’s absence, as Joelinton, Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll have only netted three league goals between them this season.
Carroll and Gayle have only amassed a combined 458 minutes of top-flight football between them this season to Joelinton’s 1,097 in the Premier League, so it’s clear who Bruce trusts the most out of the trio.
The Brazilian has big shoes to fill and a lot to prove on Monday, having featured in only two of Newcastle’s last seven league outings, so time will tell whether the £40m man can finally deliver.
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Wilson has had a hand in 15 league goals this term, so he will be sorely missed. The Magpies were coming into some form with two wins from their last three games, too, so their season might unravel without such an influential player.
That is unless Joelinton finally comes good on a consistent basis. Now would be the perfect time for him to show why Newcastle made him their club record signing two years ago.
