Luke Edwards has criticised Joelinton following Newcastle’s 3-1 loss to Brentford, saying the Brazilian is a ‘weak link’ in Eddie Howe’s midfield this season.
The Magpies extended their miserable Premier League run on the road on Sunday as goals from Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago handed them their fifth defeat of the campaign.
Despite leading at the break thanks to Harvey Barnes’ first-half opener, Newcastle conceded three times in the space of 40 minutes, with Dan Burn also sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Edwards pointed Newcastle’s ‘biggest headache’ in midfield following the defeat, saying none of the trio – Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali – have played well consistently.
He also criticised Howe, saying the tactician is ‘stuck with his favourites’ in the middle of the park, despite alternatives like Lewis Miley, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock being available on the bench.
Eddie Howe Urged to Drop ‘His Favourites’
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe after losing to West Ham United.
Writing in his Telegraph column, Edwards offered scathing criticism of Newcastle’s midfield trio following their 3-1 defeat at Brentford, branding it the ‘biggest headache’:
“It is the midfield three of Guimaraes, Joelinton and Tonali who are causing the biggest headache. Once Newcastle’s main strength, especially when they played one or two games a week and could be physically intense, none has played well consistently.“Howe keeps on picking them regardless, in the hope they click. It is not working and Joelinton, in particular, looks like a weak link.
“Newcastle have Lewis Miley, Ramsey and Joe Willock who can play in that position but Howe has, despite a series of ineffective performances, stuck with his favourites. That might need to change.”
Joelinton was forced off with an injury in the 3-1 defeat by Brentford, with Ramsey replacing the Brazilian in the 24th minute, making only his fifth Premier League appearance for Newcastle.
Following the full-time whistle, Howe refused to speculate on the severity of the Brazilian’s setback, but suggested that 'it looked like a knock'.
Newcastle were also forced to withdraw Nick Pope in the second half after the goalkeeper suffered a concussion, while Anthony Gordon was left out of the squad following a hip injury sustained during the 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Club.
Newcastle have slipped to 14th in the Premier League following the defeat, which maintained their poor run of results away from home – the Magpies last won a league game on opposition territory in April.