Steve Bruce keeps faith with Joelinton as Fabian Schar returns
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Newcastle United take on Crystal Palace this afternoon looking for their first Premier League win in four games.
And Bruce had a decision to make with Joelinton – who has been troubled by a thigh injury – after Dwight Gayle returned from a hamstring injury ahead of the game.
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Hide AdHowever, £40million signing Joelinton – who Bruce yesterday admitted was not a “natural goalscorer” – has been handed a start against Roy Hodgson’s Palace team, while Gayle is among the substitutes.
Asked about Joelinton, head coach Bruce said: “He'll learn from what has been a difficult first half of the season for him. As long has he keeps working hard, and shows the right attitude. We’re convinced that we have a player in there.
"He might not be a natural goalscorer, that's the key. He has to be a bit more selfish and think about scoring goals.”
United’s head coach is without a number of players, including Andy Carroll and Jonjo Shelvey. Newcastle are 13th in the Premier League, while Palace are a point behind them in 14th place.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, Palace’s January signing Cenk Tosun is on the home bench along with former United winger Andros Townsend.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Guaita, Ward, Cahill, Tomkins, van Aanholt, Ayew, McArthur, Milivojevic, McCarthy, Zaha, Benteke. Subs: Hennessey, Meye, Townsend, Tosun, Kelly, Brandon Keutcha, Riedewald.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Dubravka; Lazaro, Schar, Lascelles, Fernandez, Rose; Bentaleb, S Longstaff; Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton. Subs: Darlow, Ritchie, Gayle, Hayden, Lejeune, Yedlin, M Longstaff.