Steve Bruce drops Joelinton selection hint at Newcastle United

Steve Bruce is NOT minded to leave Joelinton out of his Newcastle United starting XI.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The striker, signed for £40million last summer, has only scored one Premier League goal all season.

Bruce opted against dropping the misfiring 23-year-old after Dwight Gayle returned to fitness earlier this month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And United’s head coach has hinted that Joelinton will keep his place for this afternoon’s home game against Burnley, though he could be fielded in a different position with Bruce considering changing his formation.

Bruce said: “Can he better to the side? Would that free him up? I think he’s more comfortable there. That’s something we can look at.

“Over the last few months, with the injuries, I’ve had no option. Fair play to the kid, he rolls his sleeves up and has a go. He’s come under the hammer, but he never misses a training session. He’s a team player. Perhaps playing to the side might be his strength, so we’ll explore that as well.

“It’s not just him, it’s the whole team. The front three, we’re all disappointed – is it four goals between them?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’ve done remarkably well when you look at the statistics. We’ve got the best defensive statistics at home apart from Liverpool, but the worst scoring record apart from Palace – therein lies our problem. We haven’t had the best of times – it’s how you respond.”

Newcastle haven’t scored a goal since the transfer window closed at the end of last month.