Lots of Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media after Steve Bruce confirmed that Joelinton was struggling with an injury against Everton.
Head coach Bruce fielded our £40million club-record signing in the opening line-up at Goodison Park on Tuesday night, for what was Joelinton’s 25th start in all competitions since his summer switch from TSG Hoffenheim.
Our Carabao Cup Second Round defeat to Leicester City last August remains the only match that the 23-year-old has not featured in, either from the start or off the bench.
Joelinton may now be given some welcome rest when United host Oxford in the FA Cup this Saturday afternoon, after Bruce revealed that the striker has suffered a knock which left him considering who could come on in rescue at Everton as our injury list seemingly continued to grow.
“Joelinton was struggling with an injury and we had no strikers [on the bench]”, the boss said, via quotes by the club’s official Twitter account.
“I didn’t want to put Jonjo [Shelvey] on because he wasn’t right. I’m asking people to play out of position, but they stuck at it.”
Should Bruce bench Joelinton vs Oxford?
Yes
No
Bruce went on to add that Joelinton was struggling with fitness early into the second half at Goodison Park, though he kept the 23-year-old on the field until the 78th-minute when replaced by centre-back Fabian Schar.
“Joelinton was struggling after 50 minutes; I nearly put a centre-half up front,” said the boss, via quotes by the Chronicle.
“He’s never missed a game and trains every day. He looked really tired today and was really sore.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bruce claiming Joelinton was carrying an injury against Everton, as his Premier League goal drought extended to 21 games…
We are playing injured players and people out of position because our owner doesn’t want to improve our football club just his bank balance #justsellupmike
— LeeTheMag (@LeeTheMag) January 21, 2020
Has he been struggling since August with injuries???
— Darren Burton (@dazburton74) January 21, 2020
unbelievable man a hoppe we sign bowen
— 🇧🇷 (@JoeLintoNUFC) January 21, 2020
When do we have strikers? LOL
Our defenders score because our striker is busy counting his market value
— Rocky عقيد الفيفا (@RockyFIFA10) January 21, 2020
Time to get a LB and Striker in before the Transfer shuts
— callum lewis (@callum592) January 21, 2020
If Jonjo “wasn’t right” why is even on the bench?
— Steve Park (@StevePark10) January 21, 2020
He can do that, and he knows how to get rid of a dead body, all round player
— Gary Bond (@gary_bond) January 21, 2020
If he’s not fit then don’t play the donkey
— Jacob (@BlondedJacob) January 21, 2020
Have we been lied to this whole time. Is Tom Allan not a striker
— Keithy boy 🇬🇧 ⚫⚪ (@BentalebsDa) January 21, 2020
please sign Bowen
— Dell ❄️ 14-3 (@agbnufc) January 21, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, the club are not giving up hope of signing a 16-goal forward this month.