Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has admitted that United ‘need to go to work’, but is confident that Joelinton will thrive with the Toon given time, as quoted by the Chronicle.
The Magpies opened the Premier League season at home to Arsenal on Sunday, but despite starting promisingly, fell to a one-nil defeat thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike in the 58th minute.
We were by far the busier side in the first-half, with Bruce’s men recording more shots and tackles then Unai Emery’s visitors, yet failed to maintain the same offensive intensity after the break, with the Gunners coming out strongly.
Joelinton particularly failed to replicate the same attacking ferocity in the second 45-minutes than in the first, with the 22-year-old Brazilian boasting two shots inside the opening 26-minutes, only to hold out until the 89th minute for his third.
His second strike toward Bernd Leno’s net following a dazzling run through the Gunners’ defence saw Joelinton come close to opening his Premier League account, but he would end the day as a nearly man.
Our club-record signing from TSG Hoffenheim did lead the game for aerial duels won on Sunday, though, with Joelinton winning eight of his nine battles in the air – double that of Sokratis, who led Arsenal in that account, according to data by WhoScored.
Bruce, however, does not expect it will be long before the Brazilian breaks the goal line in the English top-flight.
“First half, we played very well. Unfortunately, we couldn’t sustain it for long enough,” the boss noted after the game.
“I’m quietly convinced he [Joelinton] will do very well. The one he brought down, it only had to be a yard either side and he scores.
“We’ve seen enough to know that we need to go to work, and bed the new players in that have only been here four days. They’ll get used to the Premier League, and used to their new surroundings, and that’s got to be the next step.”