Newcastle star Jolinton. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Eddie Howe blamed Joelinton for his stupidity in receiving a yellow card in Newcastle’s 4-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday.
The Brazilian was objectively excellent against the Foxes, completing 93% of his passes and creating two chances – including a big one – while attempting three shots and two clearances.
The Newcastle midfielder in his prime is looking for a switch to MLS!
However, Joelinton was booked in the 71st minute for a late challenge on James Justin.
With the Magpies Already 4-0 up, it was a challenge Joelinton didn’t need to make and will now prove quite costly as the 28-year-old misses Newcastle’s away trip to Ipswich Town next Saturday.
Newcastle boss Howe will be even more confused and frustrated by his midfielder, given that he warned him against a penalty minutes before Joelinton foolishly took a challenge.
“It’s strange how things work. I’m talking to him from the side, he’s right in front of me and I say ‘Joey, don’t book’ and he’s like ‘don’t worry I won’t’. Two minutes later he gets booked. You just couldn’t make it up,” Howe told reporters after the emphatic win (via The Chronicle).
He added: “In some respects sometimes these things happen. I’m disappointed to lose him because he’s a player we need in every away game, but at least he can now play free and play his normal game.”
Joelinton out for a game, Nick Pope for a month
Saturday’s win ends a four-match winless streak for Newcastle and sees them climb to 11th in the table, just four points behind fifth-placed Manchester City and five out of the Champions League places.
But the Magpies face a tough festive schedule which starts with an EFL Cup clash with Brentford on Wednesday and also includes games against the likes of Aston Villa, United and Tottenham.
While Joelinton is only ruled out for one league game, Newcastle will have to cope without goalkeeper Nick Pope — who was replaced on Saturday by Martin Dubravka through injury.
“He’s seen the specialist and the feedback is that he’ll be out for about a month, so bad timing for us and for Nick because there’s a lot of games in that four-week period. “Hopefully after these four weeks, he’ll be fit enough to play,” Howe said of Pope.
“He was injured just passing the ball against Brentford. It was harmless really, it was a left-footed pass, but his knee didn’t feel particularly good afterwards, so that’s the plan.”
