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Joelinton set to be dropped for Chelsea game? Steve Bruce hinting at this change in interview?

4 years ago
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Joelinton has had a tough start at Newcastle United.

A big weight of expectation on a 22 year old.

A chaotic summer seeing Mike Ashley happy to see both of last season’s top scorers go out of the door as well as the manager.

In their place, a rarely fit Andy Carroll signed on a free and £40m Joelinton.

Mike Ashley having revealed that a deal was set up to buy the striker for £43m in February but Rafa Benitez refused to sanction it.

So far, the now 23 year old striker has scored only the one goal, the winner at Tottenham.

However, when you are playing for the team with the depressingly lowest stats in terms of chances created, possession and touches in the opposition box, it would have been a minor miracle for Joelinton to have scored many more.

He has missed a few good chances but it is a massive pressure when playing with such a negative formation and tactics.

Interviewed ahead of today’s game, Steve Bruce says that he is sure that in the long run Joelinton will be a success.

However, he also says that in the meantime it may be a case of having to ‘protect’ the striker.

Dwight Gayle is now fully fit and Bruce points out that Andy Carroll is also now available to start.

Is today the day when Joelinton will be dropped and maybe benefit from coming on as an impact player from the bench?

Steve Bruce talking to BBC Newcastle about Joelinton ahead of Chelsea match:

“He is only young, so he is still learning his trade.

“We knew when we were taking him that he is a young player.

“He is learning all the time.

“Certainly with big Andy (Carroll) fit too as well.

“That gives us…and gives him, you know, something that he can look to and help him.

“He is a young player, like you have just said with Matty (Longstaff).

“We will have to protect him (Joelinton) and help him because he is finding it tough at the minute…but that’s the way the Premier League is.

“You find it difficult to start with.

“Getting used to your new environment and your new teammates, a new way of playing.

“So we are going to have to be a little bit patient.

“But he will be ok (in the end), I’m sure of that.”

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