It has been a bruising week for Newcastle United.
Indeed, Newcastle United are preparing for two huge games, but have been dealt some bad news along the way.
Lewis Hall will miss the rest of the season, while Sven Botman requires surgery. With Anthony Gordon suspended too, it hardly makes life any easier for Eddie Howe ahead of Monday’s trip to West Ham and Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Still, there is little time to mope. Unfortunate as blow after blow may be, lamenting the absence of key players won’t get Newcastle anywhere.
There has at least been some good news too, albeit it’s not likely to make up for the events of this week.
Now free from injury, Joelinton has been handed a boost.
The excellent Joelinton has been called into the Brazil squad for their games in the upcoming international break against Colombia and Argentina.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Newcastle United capture Joelinton’s reaction to being called into the Brazil squad
Joelinton hasn’t played for Brazil since he was sent off against Argentina in a World Cup qualifier way back in 2023.
Still, such was the level of his form before a knee injury derailed his season, the 28-year-old has earned another call-up alongside Newcastle teammate Bruno Guimaraes.
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International football – particularly outside of tournaments – may often seem like a chore for players. However, Joelinton has only 5 caps for his country and it’s not hard to imagine being selected is a major honour for the player.
In fact, Newcastle United’s official Twitter account posted a video capturing Joelinton’s reaction to the call-up, much to the delight of supporters online.
Eddie Howe has now made a big claim about Joelinton at Newcastle United
As painful as it is to miss both Hall and Botman for Sunday’s game, at least Joelinton is back in action.
Without him, Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali lack a compelling third partner in midfield at times. Joe Willock, Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff offer options but none of them can match Newcastle’s brilliant Brazilian at his very best.
Joelinton makes Newcastle a better team and Howe, of course, is well aware of that – hailing him as an “absolute beast” during Friday’s pre-match press conference.
Having him fit again is good news for both Newcastle and Brazil.